<Island X> Virtual Book Club

KITA Foundation invites you to join our very first book club, featuring Island X: Taiwanese Student Migrants, Campus Spies, and Cold War Activism by Wendy Cheng.

This compelling book begins with the experiences of Taiwanese student migrants during the Cold War, tracing their lives in the United States, the political surveillance they faced, and their participation in overseas pro-democracy activism. By weaving together themes of state violence, transnational surveillance, and collective memory, Island X speaks directly to KITA’s mission of engaging with transitional justice and intergenerational trauma.

We chose this book not only because it revisits a largely overlooked chapter of history, but also because its stories are deeply connected to the origins of KITA in Pittsburgh. In 1981, Dr. Chen Wen-chen — a Taiwanese mathematician teaching at Carnegie Mellon University — was found dead during a visit to Taiwan under suspicious circumstances, in what many believe was a politically motivated killing. His death shocked the international community and marked a turning point in Taiwan’s path toward democratization. Over four decades later, we ask: how did overseas Taiwanese people of that era live through political repression and surveillance? And how have these experiences and memories been passed down across generations? What actions can we take today to collectively safeguard Taiwan's democracy, ensuring that future generations remember the past and continue to progress?

Island X opens up a space for us to reflect on these questions and talk through them — together.

📅 Date: Every fourth Thursday of the month, starting Thursday, April 24th

🕣 Eastern Time: 8:30 PM

🕠 Pacific Time: 5:30 PM

💻 Format: Online

🗣 Language: Primarily in English

⏱ Duration: 60–90 minutes

Each session will begin with a brief introduction to the reading, followed by an open discussion where participants are encouraged to share thoughts, reflections, and experiences. To foster meaningful dialogue, space will be limited—please register early to secure your spot.

這本書以冷戰時期的臺灣留學生為切入點，描繪他們在美國的經歷、遭遇的政治監控，以及參與海外民主運動的歷程，串連起國家暴力、跨境監控與族群記憶，正呼應 KITA 對轉型正義與跨代創傷的關注。

 我們選擇這本書，不只是因為它回顧了一段被忽略的歷史，也因為這段歷史與KITA的起點——匹茲堡——有著深刻的連結。1981 年，任教於卡內基美隆大學的陳文成教授在返臺期間疑似遭到政治暗殺，震驚國際社會，也成為臺灣民主化的重要轉捩點。

四十多年後，我們想問：那個年代的臺灣人，是如何走過白色恐怖與海外監控？這段記憶如何在家庭與下一代之間流轉與延續？現在的我們可以做什麼來共同守護臺灣的民主，讓未來的世代不忘過去，繼續前行？ 

《Island X》提供了一個珍貴的視角，讓我們共同探討這些問題：

 📅 時間：每個月的第四個星期四 

🕣 美東時間：晚上 8:30 

🕠 美西時間：下午 5:30 

💻 形式：線上舉行 

🗣 語言：英語為主 

⏱ 時長：60–90 分鐘 

讀書會將以簡短導讀開場，接著開放自由討論，歡迎參與者分享想法與經驗。為促進深入交流，每場將限額參加，請儘速報名。 

歡迎到 University of Washington Press 或您當地的實體書店購買 《Island X》。