Listening Through the Firewall: A Sonic Narrative of Communication Between Taiwan and China

Abstract

This paper explores the recent history of the Taiwan Strait (1949-today) from the perspective of audio communication. A focus on sound provides a way to re-conceptualize the region, moving beyond the limitations of political borders to highlight salient moments in which individuals formed connections despite communication restrictions. These moments range from the iconic voice of Teresa Teng emanating from loudspeakers and radios in the 1970s, to the boom of the Taiwan-based Mandopop industry in the 1990s, to more recent social media interactions. In the realm of these recent interactions, this paper focuses on the key role of artificial intelligence in both facilitating and regulating communication. The space of the Taiwan Strait is often discussed in contemporary media only in relation to political tensions. This research, in contrast, provides a nuanced, on-the-ground perspective of the role of cross-strait communication in the daily lives of Taiwanese and Chinese individuals. This novel perspective can then be mobilized toward efforts to facilitate open dialogue and mutual understanding in contentious political environments.