• 2024-10-05

On June 25, 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) held the first Taiwan Fellowship Scholars' Research Presentation of 2024 at the briefing room, National Central Library. The theme was "Values Concerning Democracy and Freedom in Bilateral Relations and Partnership Cooperation." The event was moderated by Consul General Ming-Teh Hsiang from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung-kwang Tien invited to deliver opening remarks. In his speech, Deputy Minister Tien expressed to the attending scholars that he hoped their research in Taiwan would expand Taiwan's diplomatic horizons. He also noted that through the research presentation, one could better appreciate the value of Taiwan's international partnerships.

The first presenter was Dr. Kaewkamol Pitakdumrongkit, a researcher from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore. Her topic was "Aligning ASEAN and Taiwan's Economic Agendas in the post-Taiwanese Election and the Shadow of US-China Tensions." She argued that Taiwan's New Southbound Policy is a strong support for promoting economic partnerships between ASEAN and Taiwan. Her presentation also explored how US-China competition and Taiwan's 2024 election results might affect the trajectory of Taiwan-ASEAN economic cooperation.

The second presenter was Professor John Hennessey-Niland, former U.S. Ambassador to Palau. His topic was "Taiwan–a Model of Democracy and Key Partner in the Indo-Pacific." He pointed out that Taiwan is a link in the chain of like-minded countries in Asia and the Pacific region, as well as with the United States, jointly committed to supporting democratic governance, respecting the rule of law, and expanding economic prosperity.

The third presenter was Dr. Blanka Brzozowska, Associate Professor from the Institute of Economics, University of Lodz, Poland. Her topic was "Taiwan's Soft Power in Polish Social Media." By examining Taiwan's online presence, she described Polish internet users' general knowledge and perceptions of Taiwan. Her discourse also explored the common associations and background that shape how Polish audiences view specific cultural values.

The presentation invited Professor Hong-zen Wang from the Department of Political Science at National Cheng Kung University and Assistant Professor Tai-ting Liu from the Graduate Institute of International Politics at National Chung Hsing University as discussants. The subsequent comprehensive discussion saw enthusiastic responses from all participants.

The presentation was also live-streamed, allowing interaction with researchers worldwide interested in the topics.

This scholars' research presentation was attended by 36 scholars from 18 countries and 8 domestic scholars and experts. Additionally, 16 MOFA staff members participated, with lively exchanges both inside and outside the venue.