Will Taiwan Be Secure in the Emerging Asian Order?

Wednesday, May 9

12:00 - 1:30 PM 

During Ma Ying-jeou's presidency, the Republic of China on Taiwan has experienced an unprecedented

Charles Horner, Dr. Kwei-Bo Huang, & Dr. John Lee

expansion of its commercial and other ties with the Chinese mainland. After a hard-fought election campaign to win a second term in office, President Ma has vowed to continue improving relations with the People's Republic of China in the interests of greater cross-Straits trade, stability, and normalization.

Yet at home and internationally, President Ma's administration has faced sharp and mounting criticism that his policies and overtures to the PRC have damaged Taiwan's sovereignty and security—as well as jeopardized the present U.S.-backed security arrangements across East Asia. This criticism is coming at a time of increasing uncertainty about the stability and predictability of the one-party regime on the Chinese mainland, and also at a time of growing tension across the region caused by Beijing's maritime claims against the Phillipines and Japan.

What role will Taiwan play in these disputes, and what can we expect from President Ma's second term? Will Taiwan become increasingly a liability for U.S. security strategy in the region, or will it become a strategic asset in U.S. efforts to promote peace and prosperity in East Asia? 

To discuss President Ma's security strategy and the international debate surrounding it, Hudson Institute hosted Dr. Kwei-Bo Huang. Currently a Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, Dr. Huang is an Associate Professor of Diplomacy and Director of the Center for Foreign Policy Studies at the College of International Affairs, National Chengchi University. He previously served, from 2009-2011, as Chairman of the Research and Planning Committee in Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dr. Huang was joined by Charles Horner, a Senior Fellow at Hudson Institute, and by Dr. John Lee, a Visiting Fellow at Hudson Institute and Associate Professor at Sydney University.

Location:

Betsy and Walter Stern Conference Center
Hudson Institute
1015 15th St, NW
6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
[Map]