S5 Ep. 38: Chinese Conquest and Two Sisters Who Rebelled: Phong Nguyen on Vietnam Then, Taiwan Today, and China’s Interests Abroad

In the wake of Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit to Taiwan, fiction writer Phong Nguyen joins Fiction/Non/Fiction hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to discuss China’s interests abroad. Nguyen speaks about his new historical novel Bronze Drum, in which he retells the story of Viêt sisters who led an army of women in battle against their Hán Chinese occupiers. He explains how their actions laid the groundwork for an independent Vietnam, and considers modern relationships between China and other countries around the world.

To hear the full episode, subscribe through iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app (include the forward slashes when searching). You can also listen by streaming from the player below. Check out video versions of our interviews on the Fiction/Non/Fiction Instagram account, the Fiction/Non/Fiction YouTube Channel, and our show website: https://www.fnfpodcast.net/.

This podcast is produced by Anne Kniggendorf.

Selected Readings:

Phong Nguyen

• Bronze Drum
• Pages From The Textbook Of Alternate History
• Roundabout: An Improvisational Fiction

Others:

• Pelosi’s ‘reckless’ Taiwan visit deepens US-China rupture – why did she go?
• U.S. Insists It Will Operate Around Taiwan, Despite China’s Pressure - The New York Times
• The Princess Bride
• Thelma and Louise

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