Sophie Turner
Europe Desk
Sophie Turner is the Europe Desk editor at The Taiwan Times, covering EU politics, economic integration and energy policy. She reads French and German, drawing directly on original European sources and official documents.
She follows the European Parliament, member-state elections and cross-border policy negotiations, and excels at decoding the power structures behind institutional issues — a seemingly dry piece of legislation can reshape the lives of hundreds of millions.
She believes Europe’s democratic experience and its integration dilemmas hold real lessons for Taiwan, and works to bring the debates of Brussels within reach of Taiwanese readers.
Areas of expertise
- European Union
- Economic integration
- Energy policy
Latest by Sophie Turner
Beyond the Main Island: Taiwan's Outlying Islands
Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, Green Island and more — Taiwan's outlying islands offer beaches, history and unique cultures. A guide to the archipelagos beyond the main island.
Yuan T. Lee: Taiwan's First Nobel Laureate
Yuan T. Lee won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and became a leading figure in Taiwanese science and society. A profile of the island's pioneering scientist.
Jay Chou: The King of Mandopop
Jay Chou transformed Mandarin pop music with his fusion of hip-hop, R&B and Chinese classical style. A profile of Taiwan's most influential contemporary musician.
A First in Asia: How Taiwan Legalised Same-Sex Marriage
In 2019 Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. The story of how it happened reveals much about Taiwan's democracy and civil society.
Tanker Attacks Near Oman Heighten Middle East Tensions and Threaten Shipping Safety
An oil tanker was attacked by Iran yesterday off the coast of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, forcing the crew to abandon ship. The incident was subsequen
Jason Wu: The Taiwanese Designer Who Dressed a First Lady
Jason Wu shot to global fame when a US first lady wore his gown to the inaugural ball. A profile of the Taipei-born fashion designer who conquered New York.
Beyond the Foundries: Taiwan's Startup and Innovation Scene
Taiwan is famous for semiconductors, but a growing startup and innovation ecosystem is diversifying its tech landscape. A look at the island's newer ventures.
US Military Tightens Iran Port Blockade as Persian Gulf Tensions Escalate
The United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) stated in its latest operational update this week that since resuming the blockade of Iranian ports on July 1
Iranian Drone Strike on Kurdish Party Camp in Northern Iraq Injures Eight
A drone strike, reportedly launched from Iran, recently targeted an area near Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The Kurdistan Freedom Par
Sudan Civil War Collapses Healthcare System as Cholera Cases Top 1,000
According to the latest statistics released by Sudan’s Ministry of Health, a cholera outbreak in the North and West Kordofan states continues to deteriorat
Zambia Declares End of Cholera Outbreak After Four Weeks Without New Cases
The Zambian Ministry of Health has officially announced the end of the country’s prolonged cholera outbreak. Since the outbreak began last August, it has h
Canadian Freedom Convoy leader Pat King guilty of intimidation in appeal ruling.
The Court of Appeal for Ontario has issued a pivotal ruling regarding Pat King, a central figure in the "Freedom Convoy" protests, overturning a lower cour
Connecticut Deploys Firefighters to Quebec to Help Tackle Wildfire Crisis
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) recently announced that it has dispatched an elite firefighting team to Quebec, Ca
Iranian Attack on Kuwaiti Power Plant Sparks Regional Energy Security Concerns
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Energy confirmed recently that a key desalination plant and a power station within the country were damaged in an attack launched b
Heavy Rains in Northern Vietnam Trigger Flash Floods, Leaving Four Dead
Heavy rainfall in Lai Châu Province, northern Vietnam, has triggered severe flash floods and landslides, devastating a mountainous village. According to th
Four Philippine Vessels Safely Transit Hormuz Strait; MFA Monitors Regional Security
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) recently confirmed that four Philippine-flagged merchant vessels have successfully transited the strateg
The Indo-Pacific: Why It Became the World's Strategic Center
Diplomats and generals now talk endlessly about the 'Indo-Pacific'. What is this region, and why has it become the focus of global strategy? A clear explainer.
Iran Claims Drone Strike on US Airbase in Bahrain, Escalating Regional Tensions
The Iranian military recently claimed to have launched a drone strike on the Sakhir Air Base in Bahrain, a facility reportedly housing U.S. military helico
Former Autostrade CEO Sentenced to 12 Years for Morandi Bridge Collapse
A court in Genoa, Italy, has delivered a historic verdict, sentencing Giovanni Castellucci, the former CEO of Autostrade per l'Italia (ASPI), to 12 years i
Explosions and Precision Strikes Across Southern Iran Escalate Regional Tensions
Explosions have been reported across several locations in southern Iran, with witnesses in Qeshm Island, Bushehr, Ahvaz, and Bandar Abbas reporting flashes
Over 1,000 Sudanese Refugees Flee Egypt to Return to War-Torn Homeland
According to recent statistics from local Sudanese committees, approximately 1,000 Sudanese nationals who had previously sought refuge in Egypt have begun
Sudan Conflict Escalates as RSF Drone Strike Hits Northern Power Plant
The civil war in Sudan has escalated once again. Earlier this week, a drone strike launched by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) precisely hit a key power sta
Iran's Parliament Speaker Says Ceasefire Channels Remain Open Amid Rising Tensions
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf recently stated publicly that despite the recent escalation in military tensions between Iran and the U
Trump Scraps Proposal to Impose 20% Tariff on Cross-Strait Cargo Ships
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the cancellation of a proposal to impose a 20% fee on cargo ships transiting through the strait. This decision ha