Occasional Reports
Standalone reports published independently from the Global Taiwan Brief
Quarterly Connections: Quarter 1, 2023
Quarterly Connections is an online periodical published every three months focused on analyzing global developments and their strategic relations to Taiwan.
In this issue, we examine the Taiwan-Malaysia relations under Prime Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim; regional responses to rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait; and the past and present of Taiwan and China’s ties with the Pacific Islands.
Contributors: John Dotson, Russell Hsiao, Marshall Reid
Repositioning Central and Eastern European Approaches to Cross-Strait Relations
In recent years, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has emerged as a key battleground in the geopolitical competition between Taiwan (Republic of China, ROC) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Motivated by the prospects of building diplomatic support and gainingexpanded access to lucrative European markets, both governmentsx have worked to establish themselves in the region. To this end, Taiwan and China have utilized a wide range of political and economic tools—both formal and informal. While the results of these effots have varied significantly, the high volume of Taiwanese and Chinese interaction with CEE states suggests that the region has become—and will continue to be—a crucial focal point in the global confrontation between the two states.
In this occasional report, the authors analyze Central and Eastern Europe’s ties with Taiwan and China through the lens of four case studies: Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. In doing so, they shed light on the key factors influencing these increasingly complex interactions and provide insights into current trends.
Contributors: Marshall Reid, Dominika Remžová, and Katherine Schultz
Assessing Trends and Demand Signals for Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy and Building a US-Taiwan Coordination Mechanism
This report was produced in partnership with the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF).
In 2021, TAEF worked with GTI to initiate a policy-focused exchange on Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy (NSP) and US strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region, resulting in a policy brief, Connecting Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy with US Foreign Policy Initiatives in Asia: Recommendations for Taipei and Washington.
This 2022 policy brief follows up on the previous year’s brief to assess the implementation of NSP initiatives, dynamics within Southeast Asia, and coordination with the US’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. Implementation of the NSP has been broadly successful in deepening ties between Taiwan and NSP countries, and future complementary bilateral US-Taiwan development assistance in Southeast Asia presents a unique opportunity to promote shared interests and values and shape a new regional framework.
Contributors: Russell Hsiao, Robert Wang, Satu Limaye
Quarterly Connections: Quarter 4, 2022
Quarterly Connections is an online periodical published every three months focused on analyzing global developments and their strategic relations to Taiwan.
In this issue, we examine the implications of Mongolia’s “Third Neighbors” policy for Taiwan; Germany’s evolving approach to cross-Strait issues; and the role of Beijing’s messaging on Taiwan, as China makes a post-pandemic return to international fora.
Contributors: John Dotson, Russell Hsiao, Marshall Reid
Quarterly Connections: Quarter 3, 2022
Quarterly Connections is an online periodical published every three months focused on analyzing global developments and their strategic relations to Taiwan.
In this issue, we examine how elections in both the Philippines and South Korea may affect those countries’ approaches to the Taiwan Strait, the implications of NATO’s 2022 “Strategic Concept” for Taiwan, and the effects of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan on elite perceptions in Southeast Asia.
Contributors: GTI Staff
US-Taiwan Relations in the 21st Century: Building the Foundation for a Global Partnership
US policy towards the Indo-Pacific is intended to promote both democracy and a new economic framework for the region, as well as to maintain longstanding American commitments to Taiwan. This report examines ways that the United States—in consultation with Taiwan and like-minded partners—can help Taiwan strengthen relations with its diplomatic and non-diplomatic partners, actively participate in international organizations, and expand its regional and global economic ties.
Contributors: Russell Hsiao, Alexander Gray, Robert Wang
Mutual Legal Assistance in the Digital Age and Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy
Despite its efforts, Taiwan continues to lack access to key international organizations focused on combating transnational crime, cybersecurity, and law enforcement cooperation— particularly INTERPOL. Yet, considering the new and complex threats posed by transnational cybercrime, Taiwan’s ability to establish mutual legal assistance treaties (MLAT) is paramount. To this end, Taiwan’s revitalized New Southbound Policy—with its emphasis on South and Southeast Asia’s growing economic and digital footprints—presents an ideal platform for establishing and deepening such cooperation.
This policy backgrounder not only seeks to illustrate the importance of MLATs as criminal activity becomes more digitized, but also highlights existing partnerships and platforms that have proven successful in combating transnational cybercrime as well as their challenges.
Contributors: Russell Hsiao, Zoe Weaver-Lee
Connecting Taiwan's New Southbound Policy with US Foreign Policy Initiatives in Asia: Recommendations for Taipei and Washington
This report was produced in partnership with the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF).
Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, has placed significant emphasis on the New Southbound Policy (NSP) as her administration’s signature foreign policy initiative since assuming office in 2016. The NSP, which aims to bolster Taiwan’s economic, political, and cultural ties with the nations of South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, has resulted in a marked increase in Taiwan’s engagements with the region. This shift has helped to bring Taiwan’s foreign policy into greater alignment with that of the United States, which has increasingly shifted focus to the Indo-Pacific region in recent years. While officials in Taipei and Washington have talked a lot about their shared interests, Taiwan and the United States have done relatively little to coordinate their approaches to the Indo-Pacific. This report seeks to highlight complementary features between the NSP and US foreign policy initiatives in Asia, with the goal of providing concrete recommendations for strengthening and expanding cooperation between the two governments and civil societies.
Contributors: Russell Hsiao, Robert Wang
Urban Governance in East Asia: Lessons from Taiwan's Open Green Program
Despite its small size, Taiwan has emerged as regional economic and industrial powerhouse. This evolution has been driven in large part by Taiwan’s cities, which have become the linchpins of the island’s growing high-tech economy. However, such urban growth should not come at the expense of sustainable development. In his report, Professor Hou examines the Open Green Matching Fund program in Taipei. Unlike typical urban regeneration approaches that focus on large-scale urban redevelopment, the Open Green program provides funding for neighborhood and community groups to engage in bottom-up, community-drive placemaking projects that improve local environments.
Contributors: Jeffrey Hou
David and Goliath: Strengthening Taiwan's Deterrence and Resiliency
As the new American administration sets out its agenda with US allies and partners to preserve and promote the rules-based order, it will have a natural partner in Taiwan. Tsai Ing-wen was reelected as President of Taiwan in January 2020—formally known as the Republic of China (ROC)—with a popular mandate. As a democratic ally and vital security partner of the United States, Washington and Taipei have many reasons to deepen their ties. This report provides policymakers in Washington and Taipei with a common reference point that both identifies the challenges as well as proposes some recommendations to ensure common purpose and policy objectives going forward.
Contributors: Lieutenant General Wallace “Chip” Gregson (ret.), Russell Hsiao, Ambassador Stephen M. Young (ret.)
Taiwan's Disaster Preparedness and Response: Strengths, Shortfalls, and Paths to Improvement
Taiwan is at risk from numerous types of natural disasters, including floods, typhoons, earthquakes. This occasional report provides an overview of Taiwan’s disaster preparedness and response since 1999, when a powerful earthquake struck the island on September 21 and killed more than 2,000 people. The 1999 earthquake exposed key inefficiencies in the central government’s disaster response, leading the government to initiate several reforms to its national emergency management system.
Contributors: Leo Bosner, I-wei Jennifer Chang
A Case Study of Recent Social Movements in Hong Kong and Taiwan: Convergence of Counter-Identities amid China’s Rise
This report provides extensive analysis of three recent social movements: The Sunflower Movement in Taiwan, as well as Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement and anti-extradition bill protests. In doing so, she investigates social, cultural, and political linkages between demonstrators in the two democracies, exploring the ways in which these movements have influenced one another.
Contributors: Christina Lai
A Survey of Public Perceptions on Diplomatic Recognition of Taiwan
This in-depth report explores Taiwanese public perceptions toward and evaluates the main actors as well as conditions influencing diplomatic recognition of Taiwan. This study examines these timely questions through probit regression analysis and original experimental web surveys in Taiwan.
Contributors: Timothy S. Rich
Taiwan Miracle Redux: Navigating Economic Challenges in a Contested Democracy
This research examines the differences in the policy making process under one-party rule versus the contested multi-party status quo to develop an understanding of the effect that Taiwan’s democratic system of governance has had on its economic development while providing recommendations on potential areas for reform or improvement.
Contributors: Tze-Ting Huang, Ryan Terribilini