Wednesday, August, 14, 2024 from 9:30 – 11:00AM (EDT)
Webcast
Event Summary:
Event Summary
On August 14, 2024, the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI) hosted an online panel discussion in partnership with the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF), titled: “Recalibrating Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy and the US Indo-Pacific Strategy in 2024.” The featured speakers were: Dr. Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao (TAEF), Dr. Alan H. Yang (TAEF), Colonel Trey Meeks (The Asia Group), and Alex Wong (Hudson Institute). The event was moderated by GTI Executive Director Russell Hsiao.
The event began with Russell Hsiao outlining how the US Indo-Pacific Strategy was conceptualized in the second Obama Administration and then developed in the Trump and Biden Administrations. While there are notable differences in how each administration has implemented the strategy, the development of the strategy has represented a renewed focus on the Indo-Pacific theater economically, politically, and strategically. With a similar focus on the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy (NSP)— the signature foreign policy initiative of former President Tsai Ing-wen— aims to enhance Taiwan’s regional people-to-people and economic ties
Dr. Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao, the first panelist, began by asserting that the NSP will continue for the foreseeable future, given support from the Lai Administration. Dr. Hsiao described the NSP as not only military and security focused, but also directed towards economic, social, international, environmental, and technological goals. Additionally, TAEF has assisted in the development of the NSP by offering recommendations to over 10 Taiwanese government ministries on how to successfully implement policy initiatives as the organization bridges public and private sector work. Aiming to communicate the successes of these policy initiatives to international audiences, TAEF has released various reports on how to enhance relationships between Taiwan and the NSP countries—including over 18 countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. To further think tank diplomacy, TAEF also plans to launch an NSP think tank summit mid-2025. In addition to advocating for the human rights, well being, and quality of life of the Southeast Asian migrant workers in Taiwan, as well as the persons in cross border marriages, TAEF also encourages the prioritization of young leadership through its annual Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Taiwan Youth Camps. During the youth camps, participants share concerns about critical issues and events across various NSP countries, and TAEF hopes to expand this program next year. Cultural diplomacy is of great value to the development of NSP diplomacy and TAEF facilitates cultural and artistic exchanges between NSP countries, inviting artists from Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia to share their views and expertise with Taiwanese artists. Besides youth camps and cultural exchanges, TAEF has also facilitated environmental disaster and prevention programs and training camps for NSP countries. Dr. Hsiao ended by saying that if NSP countries realize that “Taiwan can help,” then resilient diplomacy within the “TAEF NSP Plus” youth framework, and NGO and think tank areas, will be of great value.
Next, Dr. Alan H. Yang reaffirmed that the NSP will continue, especially through the “PPP” approach: referring to partnerships between the “public, private, and peoples” sectors. Dr. Yang then discussed the value-based diplomacy elements of the NSP, specifically in relation to goals of democracy, peace, and prosperity. Dr. Yang described how President Lai’s campaign rhetoric advocating for Taiwan as a country of economic strength and success—enabling the digital economy, cybersecurity, precision health, green and renewable energy, national defense and strategic growth—will inform future policy. Highlighting Taiwan’s global importance within digital technology industries, Dr. Yang stated that the NSP plays an important role to reinforce another set of DPP values, with Taiwanese development at the forefront. Describing the “TAEF NSP Plus” project as including agricultural, education, health, and social and economic connectivity Taiwan-lead programs within NSP countries, Dr. Yang used Taiwan-lead firefighting training programs and health centers (with over 1,300 medical personnel trained) as an example. Dr. Yang reiterated TAEF’s commitment to expanding its youth camps, organizing a 2025 think tank summit, and creating an NGO training hub in Taiwan. Dr. Yang noted that these programs and issue areas work in tandem with President Lai’s foreign policy goal– especially within expanding NSP aims of making Taiwan a more indispensable, reliable global leader.
Colonel Trey Meeks, the next panelist, focused on the US Indo-Pacific Strategy and its involvement with Taiwan’s NSP. He first emphasized the importance of trade—especially technological trade—within Taiwan military relations and relations with like minded partners. Second, he described the new Indo-Pacific Lattice Framework of the Biden Administration as a resounding success replacing a more US-centric model. Colonel Meeks pointed out that the fear of escalating tensions with China has replaced fears of crossing red lines with China in recent years, which limited American implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy. He then emphasized the global value of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, leading to increased ASEAN and global support for Taiwan. Colonel Meeks described restricting access to US technology and high end semiconductors as a “policy masterstroke” from the Trump Administration, restrictions which the Biden Administration has tripled—the success of which is seen in Taiwan, the United States, and ASEAN’s support for TSMC, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla’s leaders. He then discussed Taiwan’s prosperous free trade agreements with Singapore and New Zealand beginning in 2013, dismissing fears of free trade agreements as a red line. Given Chinese coercion in both the West Philippines Sea and Taiwan, Colonel Meeks recommended that Taiwan work even closer with the Philippines to combat these maritime security challenges while also increasing economic ties—suggesting that TSMC semiconductor production could be offset to the Philippines instead of China in the future. He described the various successes of the Biden Administration’s Lattice Framework in the Indo-Pacific, including US-Taiwan, Taiwan-Philippines, and Taiwan-Japan coast guard training. Finally, Colonel Meeks said that the US Indo Pacific Command, the US Secretary of Defense, and the UN National Security Council have been rightly concerned with escalation risk—but that this risk perception can limit mitigated, effective responses to China.
Finally, Alex Wong spoke about how economic shifts in recent years in China and the broader region have informed the success of the NSP. Wong discussed China’s domestic economic and policy changes, including the withdrawal of Taiwanese and Western countries’ investment in China. Wong described these shifts as part of Beijing’s explicit policy of dual dependency, while China aims to limit its own dependencies globally. Japan’s Free Indo-Pacific Strategy, South Korea’s New Southern Policy, India’s Act East Policy, and other shifts within ASEAN and Indo-Pacific policies represent a response to lessen dependencies on China, and to deepen economic and civic connections with Taiwan. Wong also described the value of the NSP in enhancing unofficial diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Finally, Wong mentioned the differences in approaches between Chinese and American strategy in the Indo-Pacific: describing the US strategy as one of balance, and China’s as one of dominance. Because complete dominance will be difficult for China to achieve, Wong said, policies aimed at achieving balance and neutralizing intimidation from Beijing are important strategies which the United States, ASEAN countries, and Taiwan are succeeding at as they work together.
This event summary was written by 2024 GTI Summer Intern Lillian Ellis.