—About the Program—
Strengthening regional resilience is a core priority of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy Plus (NSP+), reflecting the growing urgency of natural disasters and transnational risks across Asia. As climate change accelerates the frequency and severity of extreme events, building shared preparedness, response capacity, and long-term sustainability has become essential to the security and well-being of the Indo-Pacific region.
The Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF) advances this mission through our Regional Resilience Program—one of our flagship initiatives designed to promote dialogue and develop practical, cooperative approaches to Asia’s most pressing disaster-related challenges.
By actively advocating for the NSP+ and playing a leading role in promoting the Indo-Pacific Disaster Resilience Corridor, TAEF seeks to strengthen disaster-prevention cooperation between Taiwan, New Southbound countries, and other like-minded partners, building joint resilience frameworks and facilitating deeper regional coordination.
By facilitating cross-sectoral partnerships, policy dialogues, and collaborative projects with research centres, medical and emergency-response organisations, and regional networks, TAEF seeks to strengthen the region’s disaster resilience ecosystem, enhance disaster preparedness, and promote best practices for sustainable and inclusive development across the Indo-Pacific.
—Regional Collaboration and Dialogue—
1. Asia Regional Resilience Consortium (ARC)
Since 2018, TAEF has partnered with organisations across the region to host the Asia Dialogue: Disaster and Regional Resilience Workshop, showcasing the Meizhou community—widely recognised in Taiwan as a model for grassroots disaster preparedness—to an international audience and earning the U.S. State Department’s Innovation Alumni Award.
Building on this momentum, TAEF established the Asia Regional Resilience Consortium (ARC) in 2019—Taiwan’s first civil society alliance that brings together think tanks, industry leaders, and the medical sector to advance disaster prevention and regional resilience.
ARC’s founding members include the Taiwan Association of Disaster Prevention Industry (TADPI), Messe Frankfurt (Taiwan), and Taipei Medical University (TMU).
In May 2019, ARC co-hosted the Asia-Pacific Smart Disaster Prevention Summit Forum at the Taipei International Security Expo, inviting experts from across the region to explore innovative approaches to disaster response and preparedness.
2. Capacity-Building and Training
Since 2023, TAEF has supported Taiwan’s National Fire Agency in hosting a series of international training programmes for firefighters from around the Indo-Pacific. These include the 2023 Taiwan–Japan–Philippines Senior Fire Officers Workshop, 2023 Taiwan–Vietnam High-Tech Disaster Reduction and Firefighting Workshop, 2024 Taiwan–Philippines Special Rescue Training, 2025 Taiwan–Philippines Senior Disaster Management Officers Workshop, and the 2025 Taiwan–Philippines–Fiji Special Rescue Training.
Bringing participants to Taiwan for intensive exchanges, hands-on training, and practical exercises, these programmes include senior-level officer workshops and specialised rescue training programs designed to strengthen frontline skills and leadership. Through these initiatives, TAEF deepens disaster-prevention cooperation with New Southbound countries and like-minded partners, while bolstering the capacity of firefighters and emergency responders across the region.
For more videos on the 2025 Taiwan–Philippines–Fiji Special Rescue Training, click here
3. Annual Asia Disaster Prevention Forum
TAEF, together with partners from the Asia Regional Resilience Consortium (ARC)—including the Taiwan Association of Disaster Prevention Industry (TADPI) and Messe Frankfurt (Taiwan)—hosts the annual Asia Disaster Prevention Forum. The forum provides a platform to explore how the integration of smart technologies and the sharing of Taiwan’s disaster-prevention experience can strengthen practical international cooperation and build more resilient disaster-management systems across Asia.
Each year, the forum brings together experts from countries including Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam to share experiences and best practices in disaster-prevention collaboration and technology applications. By fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange, the forum enhances regional joint disaster-response capabilities and contributes to a more resilient Indo-Pacific.
