In 2016, there were only five international hotels in the Uyghur Xinjiang Autonomous Region. Today, that number has increased tenfold -- and continues to grow. Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, Minor Hotels, and Wyndham are all opening and operating in the region, where the United States, the United Kingdom’s Parliament, and the European Parliament have stated that genocide is being committed against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities by Chinese authorities. In this episode, Peter Irwin, Associate Director for Research and Advocacy at the Uyghur Human Rights Project, discusses why the expansion of international hotel chains in Xinjiang is contributing to ongoing atrocities against Uyghur communities and other Muslim groups.

In this episode of Oh, I Didn't Know That, Amber talks with Carrie Kellenberger, who shares her journey living with multiple autoimmune diseases, particularly axial spondyloarthritis, also known as axSpA. She discusses the challenges of diagnosis, the importance of awareness, and the need for better support systems for those with chronic illnesses. 

Today's episode brings sad news about Ching-en leaving Rti to pursue his master's degree in Thailand, as well as Amber, who will be leaving at the end of the summer! We will also look at a couple of emails, including a wonderful article about India and its indescribable beauty.  If you want to contact us and have your message read on air, you can send a letter to P.O. BOX 123 199 Taipei, Taiwan English@rti.org.tw or reach us on social media, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, @Rtienglish 

The Reader 040825_Nancy Baldwin Historical and political gentrifications Being an Asian American, retired writer Nancy Baldwin (whose given name by birth was Lai Shui Wen) returns to The Reader to share her insights on the coming publication of her memoir “One thousand layers of water and cloud” in Chinese. Besides explaining the necessity of her generation of Taiwanese women to break the silence of their agonic past, Nancy was entreated to speak about her views on the current political situation of her country which puzzled many. She conveyed her strong faith on the American constitution but expressed uneasiness facing the separatist atmosphere and the stern harshness of Immigration officers at the US borders. Being Asian and female, she scorns the manipulative policy that put social communion on cold ice.

Aren't the beginnings of things just so exciting?  Ready, set, start!

This week, we kick off our return to last year's August theme: Spicy Summer, where we take a microscope to different elements of the romance genre, to try and understand what keeps it so enduringly popular. Last year we investigated the reptation of the romance genre, and to what degree it was earned. This year we'll be taking a look at different romantic archetypes, patterns that characters and storylines tend to fall into, and how they play out across a variety of stories in ways both familiar and surprising. To help us introduce the new month's theme, host Amanda Stephens invites back several guests from last year's Spicy Summer and invites them to discuss what they know about archetypes, their opinions on what romance adds to the stories it's often featured in. Special thanks to Emily Daniels, Jared Friesen, and Olek Shyn for their help with this week's interviews.

The Interior Ministry recently finalized amendments to regulations stipulating that Chinese residents applying to live in Taiwan must submit proof that they have never applied for, held, or have abandoned their Chinese passport.

Do young people really want to talk about decolonisation — or are they too tired to care? Lahok Ciwko reflects on uncomfortable truths about the microaggressions, racism, and everyday prejudice Indigenous people still face in Taiwan. He shares what it means to “check your privilege”, why laughing off racist jokes isn’t always healing, and why recognising Indigenous land isn’t about guilt — it’s about respect and responsibility. Listen to #InTaiwanWeSpeak on podcast platforms of your choice: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Amazon Music | Other platforms Follow Rti English on Instagram or Facebook for more updates. New episodes are released every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8)

While she may work in an office largely handling paperwork and replying to emails, today's guest Niya says her experience is much different because she isn't working to make a CEO richer, her boss is the Taiwanese black bears. Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes listening to this episode and feeding your noggin with fun facts about the animal kingdom so you can become smarter than all of your friends. On today's menu for your mind to feast on:  – The dream job: Working in animal conservation – with Niya   – Overcoming a fear of fostering – with Connie Chiang  – Taiwan's lizard bounty expands as the threat grows The Asia for Animals (AfA) Conference will happen right here in Taiwan from August 25-29, 2025. It is the largest gathering of animal protection organizations in Taiwan. With speakers, panels, and workshops, notable figures from across the world will gather to spread and ...