TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US Public Broadcasting Service announced it will begin airing the documentary “Invisible Nation” nationwide on May 1. 

May is recognized in the US as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI), with the second week designated as Taiwanese American Heritage Week, according to a press release from the Formosan Association for Public Affairs. 

The documentary, released in 2023, follows the presidency of Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to tell the story of Taiwan’s democratization and explain the challenges the country faces today. It will also be available on the PBS streaming service or via the PBS Passport app. 

FAPA President Su-mei Kao (林素梅) said the film was deliberately scheduled at the start of AAPI Heritage Month and leading into Taiwanese American Heritage Week, “so that communities across the country could learn Taiwan’s story directly.”

“The struggle for democracy in Taiwan, and the experience of having your identity marginalized, resonates deeply with Taiwanese Americans who have long fought simply to be recognized as Taiwanese,” Kao said, per FAPA.

FAPA has co-organized a national university tour of Invisible Nation since March, with film director Vanessa Hope and the film’s production team. The tour has already reached over 1,000 attendees and is on track to span 19 university campuses across 11 states, including Yale University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Florida, FAPA said.

Each screening is followed by panel discussions featuring diplomats, policymakers, and academic experts to provide deeper insights into Taiwan.

For more information on where to watch the film, please visit the Invisible Nation website.