November 7, 2023

 

 

 

November 2, 2023

 

A team from an Australian Foundation, FASIC, visited Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF) on November 2nd to discuss further collaboration.

 

FASIC, established in 2011 in Sydney, is an apolitical non-profit organization that supports the engagement and educational activities that deepen understanding between the people of Australia and Mandarin-speaing world. This is the Chairperson of FASIC's, Dr. Angela Lehmann, first visit to Taiwan and TAEF.

 

During their visit to TAEF, Dr. Angela Lehmann and her team conversed with Dr. Alan Yang, Executive Director of TAEF, as both sides have expressed interest in topics such as immigrant issues, disaster resilience, and climate change.

 

We are looking forward to further collaboration with FASIC in the future!

2023 Yushan Forum Spotlight Interview｜Aung Htet Naing

November 7, 2023

Sailing South: Taiwan's Strategic Reimagining of Regional Ties

October 7, 2023

 

The New Southbound Policy has not received the attention it deserves from both Taiwan and the target countries. Strengthening the policy and clearly communicating its objectives and interests to partners may create opportunities for greater cooperation between Taiwan and the countries within the New Southbound Policy framework.

 

- Dr. Alan Hao Yang, Executive Director & Dr. Sana Hashimi, Postdoctoral Fellow, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation

 

Taiwan’s relationships with Asian countries, despite their clear importance, often receive limited attention. The discourse surrounding Taiwan predominantly revolves around cross-strait relations, often highlighting China’s expressed “anger” and perceived provocation. Remarkably, there has been limited attention paid to Taiwan’s strategies in response to China’s aggressive actions and gray zone tactics.

 

A key policy implemented by Taiwan to counter China’s shrinking of Taiwan’s international space was the New Southbound Policy, launched by President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016. This policy was designed to expedite Taiwan’s efforts to foster stronger ties with countries in both its immediate and extended neighborhood. The New Southbound Policy stands out as a successful regional strategy that effectively balances reliance on a single market (i.e. China) while strategically fostering multifaceted collaborations through cross-sectoral partnerships, despite the pressures exerted by China.

 

The New Southbound Policy has provided Taiwan with a vital avenue to establish connections across South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Taiwan’s interactions and partnerships with countries in the targeted region, particularly India and Australia, have proven to be of great significance.

 

The question that needs to be addressed is whether Taiwan has successfully aligned itself and the goals of the New Southbound Policy with the priorities and interests of the countries under the framework of the policy. How is Taiwan’s call for greater engagement perceived by the recipient countries?

 

 

Foreign Minister Wu attends Diwali gala in Taipei

November 6, 2023

 

Taiwan, Indonesia conclude industrial collaboration forum

November 6, 2023

 

The sixth Indonesia-Taiwan Industrial Collaboration Forum concluded Oct. 30 in the Southeast Asian country’s city of Bogor, reflecting commitment of both sides to expanding bilateral economic and trade ties.
 
According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, this was the first in-person edition of the annual forum since the outbreak of COVID-19 and was attended by around 220 academics, business leaders, experts and officials from the two countries. It was co-organized by Taipei City-based Chinese National Federation of Industries and Jakarta-based Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
 
During the forum, keynote speakers discussed the latest developments toward attaining net-zero emissions, the ministry said. Representatives also explored ways to reach the goal while expanding two-way cooperation in the food, Internet of Things, Industry 4.0 and shipbuilding sectors, with Taiwan’s digital New Southbound Policy as the foundation, the ministry said.
 
During his opening remarks, Vice MOEA Minister Lin Chuan-neng praised the success of the platform in channeling resources and promoting exchanges between Taiwan and Indonesia. He expects more encouraging development when the event takes place in Taiwan next year.

 

 

Taiwanese investors pledge over US$365 million for eco-friendly ventures in Philippines

November 5, 2023 

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) announced on Friday (Nov. 3) that Taiwanese companies participating in the 2023 Philippine Investment Forum pledged over US$365 million (PHP$20 billion) in investments related to green energy and sustainable enterprises.

PEZA, in cooperation with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Taipei, is eager to welcome Taiwanese companies to the country to collaborate on various ecozone programs. This year’s forum was a five-day event that included 154 businessmen from prominent Taiwanese companies, who toured sites and engaged in business-to-business meetings.

The largest investment was pledged by a consortium of Japanese and Taiwanese companies and will go towards the development of compostable packaging materials. PEZA announced that over US$200 million has been secured for this enterprise.

PEZA’s Director General Tereso Panga said in the press release that Taiwan is one of the top investors in the country’s ecozone campaign. Panga said that with the newest investments, Taiwan and the Philippines will continue to deepen their friendship and economic ties, as the Philippines strives to achieve “inclusive and sustainable development.”

 

In Australia, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Appeals to Shared Values

October 31, 2023

 

On Monday night (Oct. 30), Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu delivered a talk at La Trobe University in Melbourne. Australia is seen by Taiwan as a key player in constructing this resilience. 

 

In the foreign minister’s remarks, Wu highlighted that Australia was an important actor for protecting “a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific region.” In particular he highlighted Australia’s proactive role in enhancing the regional security architecture through initiatives like the Quad and AUKUS. Both welcome developments in Taipei that enhance deterrence of Taiwan’s overwhelming security concern: China. 

 

Yet Wu was keen to stress that this deterrence is not simply a matter of military might and cooperative security partnerships; he noted that democratic resilience was also an essential element. This democratic resilience is twofold. It come from domestic populations having commitment to democratic principles, and this is buttressed by a network of international partners that share the same commitments. It’s important in this framework to make democracy – and its interdependent relationship with liberalism – global norms that governments, political parties, media outlets, and civil society groups are all dedicated to preserving and enhancing.

 

The foreign minister emphasized that “Taiwan, Australia, and other like-minded nations stand at a critical juncture. The forces of authoritarian expansionism are attempting to undermine our shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.” Wu noted that these forces are not a localized phenomena, but carry grave global consequences.