August 24: China’s Policies Toward Taiwan in the Wake of the Pelosi Visit

Wednesday, August 24, 2022 from 10:30AM – 12:00PM (ET)

Event Description:

The Global Taiwan Institute (GTI) is pleased to invite you to a seminar titled “China’s Policies Toward Taiwan in the Wake of the Pelosi Visit.” The past three years have seen steadily escalating pressure directed by the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) against Taiwan, including provocative military activity in the air and sea domains around the island, the increasing use of internet and media disinformation and propaganda, and escalating political rhetoric demanding “reunification.” Tensions have risen dramatically following a series of dramatic events in August, which saw a visit to Taiwan by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi—and subsequent large-scale military exercises and missile launches around Taiwan conducted by PRC military forces.

As the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) prepares for its 20^th Party Congress this autumn—a quinquennial event expected to grant CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping a third term in office, possibly placing him in position to rule for life—Taiwan issues have come to occupy a prominent place in CCP public rhetoric. This was further demonstrated by the release on August 10 of a new PRC government white paper on Taiwan policy, which reiterated in even stronger terms the CCP’s insistent demands for “reunification”—as well as the CCP’s condemnation of both Taiwan’s democratically elected government and the “interference of external forces,” with the latter clearly intended to mean the United States.

These developments present a number of fundamental questions: To what degree has Speaker Pelosi’s visit, and the PRC reaction, changed cross-Strait dynamics? What policy priorities and initiatives should we expect the CCP leadership to adopt towards Taiwan in the lead-up to the party congress, and in a presumptive third Xi term? In light of developments in Hong Kong, what is the viability for the PRC’s official unification framework of “One Country, Two Systems” in relation to Taiwan? And how should we assess the Chinese military’s capacity for forcibly asserting PRC control over Taiwan, and what is the danger of armed conflict in the near- to medium-term?

This seminar will provide discussion of these and other fundamental questions regarding Taiwan and its relations with the PRC. Panelists will include: Michael Cunningham, visiting fellow with the Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center; Dr. Arthur Ding, professor emeritus with National Cheng-chih University in Taiwan; and Yun Sun, senior fellow and co-director of the East Asia Program and director of the China Program at the Stimson Center. The event will be moderated by GTI Deputy Director John Dotson.

Doors will open at 10:00 AM, and the event will begin at 10:30 AM. If you plan on attending in-person, please RSVP here by August 22, as seating is limited. Please only register if you would like to attend in-person. Lunch will be provided. Please direct questions or concerns to Program Manager Marshall Reid at mreid@globaltaiwan.org.

The event will also be broadcast live here and on YouTube beginning at 10:30 AM.

**Media: Please contact Marshall Reid at mreid@globaltaiwan.org if you would like to bring additional crew members or equipment, so that we can be sure to accommodate you.

COVID Procedures: Proof of vaccination will be required at check in. Attendees unable to provide documentation will be required to wear a mask. Masks are optional for vaccinated individuals who are able to provide proof of vaccination.

The Speakers:

Michael Cunningham is a visiting fellow with the Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center. He possesses several years of experience as a consultant and analyst in the field of political risk management, working for firms in both China and Taiwan. He is currently the director and China lead for the Martin & Crumpton Group, providing analysis to clients on Chinese political and regulatory developments. Cunningham holds a BA in International Relations from Brigham Young University and an MA in international affairs from American University.

Arthur Ding is a professor emeritus, National Cheng-chih University (NCCU), Taipei, Taiwan. He now teaches part time at both the NCCU and Taiwan’s National Defense University. His research focuses on China security related fields, including China’s defense, party-military relations in China, as well as China’s defense industry. Dr. Ding holds a PhD in government and international studies from the University of Notre Dame.

Yun Sun is a senior fellow, co-director of the East Asia Program, and director of the China Program at the Stimson Center. Her expertise is in Chinese foreign policy, US-China relations, and China’s relations with neighboring countries and authoritarian regimes. She has served previously as a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, and as a China analyst for the International Crisis Group based in Beijing. She holds a BA in international relations and an MA in Asia-Pacific studies from Foreign Affairs College in Beijing, as well as a master’s degree in international policy and practice from George Washington University.

The Moderator:

John Dotson is the deputy director at GTI. John has performed extensive writing and research on a range of political and national security issues related to US policy in East Asia, including Chinese propaganda and influence efforts, military-civil fusion efforts within the People’s Liberation Army, and patterns in military coercion efforts directed against Taiwan. He is a proficient Mandarin linguist, who has performed extensive original research in indigenous Chinese language sources. Dotson holds an MA in National Security Studies from the US Naval War College, and a Master of International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins-SAIS.