A Taiwanese queer novel just made literary history
Issue #215 explores how a historic win for Taiwanese literature collided with growing immigration fears, anti-Asian backlash and questions over who gets to belong in America
A Taiwanese novel centered on queer love and colonial history has become the first Mandarin Chinese work to win the International Booker Prize, marking a rare global breakthrough for stories rooted in Asian diasporic identity and Taiwan’s complicated past.
This issue also follows the growing pressure around who gets treated as fully American and who doesn’t. A proposal targeting naturalized citizens is drawing backlash from immigrant lawmakers, Indian tech workers are facing hostility as layoffs spread through the industry and deaths inside ICE detention are continuing to rise. We’re also looking at how anti-Asian anger escalated during COVID and why Angel Island’s history of exclusion still resonates now.
Featured
Taiwanese novel becomes first Mandarin Chinese Booker winner
“Taiwan Travelogue,” a queer historical novel set in Japanese-occupied Taiwan, has become the first Mandarin Chinese work to win the International Booker Prize. Written by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and translated by Taiwanese American writer Lin King, the novel follows the relationship between two women against the backdrop of colonial rule, identity and cultural tension rarely centered in Western literary spaces.
The win places Taiwanese history, queer Asian storytelling and diasporic identity on one of the world’s biggest literary stages at a time when conversations around Taiwan and Asian representation are growing more politically charged globally.
What else we’re tracking
Why a post about a Meta layoff triggered a wave of anti-Indian racism
An online thread about a laid-off Indian Meta engineer quickly spiraled into hostility toward H-1B workers and Indian immigrants. Some comments openly celebrated the possibility of families being forced to leave the U.S. Others warned the reaction reflected growing resentment tied to tech layoffs and AI disruption.
Jayapal slams GOP resolution excluding naturalized citizens like her from federal office
Rep. Pramila Jayapal is pushing back against a Republican proposal that would bar naturalized Americans from serving in Congress or holding key federal positions. Critics say the measure revives old ideas questioning immigrants’ loyalty to the U.S. The debate arrives as denaturalization efforts and immigration crackdowns continue expanding nationally.
Korean American gubernatorial candidate won’t back down on defunding police
Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong is facing renewed scrutiny over past posts supporting police abolition. Hong says her views developed during a period of rising anti-Asian attacks and nationwide protests over racism and policing. The controversy reflects broader divisions among Asian American voters over public safety and progressive activism.
USA’s 250th anniversary revives attention on immigration station built to exclude Asians
Angel Island Immigration Station, once used to detain and interrogate Asian immigrants under exclusion-era laws, has again been listed among America’s most endangered historic places. Preservationists say the site’s history feels especially relevant as immigration debates intensify nationwide. Restoration efforts are ongoing.
Suicides in ICE detention hit two-decade high
Suicides inside ICE detention have climbed to their highest level in at least two decades, with multiple deaths already reported this year. Advocates say uncertainty, isolation and language barriers leave many detainees especially vulnerable. Asian immigrants have also been among those who died in custody in recent years.
Fear alone did not drive anti-Asian attacks during COVID, researchers say
New research suggests anti-Asian racism during COVID-19 was driven more by anger and blame than fear of infection itself. Researchers say the findings help explain why discrimination frequently escalated into harassment and violence. Political rhetoric linking Asians to the virus intensified those reactions.
YouTuber faces backlash after anti-Asian tweet resurfaces during K-pop debut
Internet personality Trisha Paytas is facing backlash after anti-Asian tweets resurfaced days after she released a Korean-language pop single styled after mainstream K-pop videos. Critics questioned the rollout’s use of Korean culture while pointing to Paytas’ history of controversial statements. The backlash spread quickly online.
New bill seeks to expose hidden education gaps among Asian American students
A new federal bill would require schools to report more detailed demographic data across Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. Supporters say current reporting methods hide major educational gaps among different ethnic groups. Advocates argue better data is necessary to direct resources more fairly.
Why read Issue #215?
There’s a growing sense across many of these stories that belonging in America is becoming more conditional again. A historic literary win can happen at the same time immigrant lawmakers are being told people like them should not hold office. A family can build an entire life around working in the U.S. only to realize how fragile that stability actually is once layoffs, visas or politics shift. Even conversations around public health and policing still carry the aftereffects of years of racial tension that never fully went away.
The details vary, but many of these stories point to the same uneasiness around who feels secure, accepted or protected right now.
Support independent Asian diaspora journalism. Become a paid subscriber to read the full stories and help sustain The Rebel Yellow.
The Rebel Yellow is supported in part by funding from The Asian American Foundation (TAAF). Funders do not influence story selection, reporting, or editorial decisions. All editorial content is independently produced by The Rebel Yellow team.