Since its establishment, the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF) has been actively partnering with important think tanks of the New Southbound Policy (NSP) partner countries and other like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific region, utilizing think tank exchanges, initiating dialogues and conducting joint policy reports to promote think tank diplomacy and deepen partnership between Taiwan and like-minded partner countries. In this regard, TAEF takes pleasure in working with the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI) based in Washington, D.C., for the past three years in implementing long-term policy research projects, publishing policy reports, and sharing meaningful insights and recommendations with the policy communities in Taiwan and the United States.
The Project starts with highlighting the strategic importance of Taiwan’s NSP and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Initiative. The second phase identifies the mechanisms for bilateral cooperation and coordination in important policy areas. The third phase, which is currently in progress, brings light to both institutions investigation regarding pragmatic policy recommendations for the next leaders of Taiwan and the United States. All three phases highlight the NSP as an interface to pinpoint common interests between Taiwan and the U.S. while deepening partnerships between the two countries. It also aims to identify key issues of third-party involvement in the NSP cooperation.
On behalf of the TAEF, I would like to thank GTI for their support. I would also like to especially extend my gratitude towards the excellent coordination and leadership of Russell Hsiao, the executive director of GTI, so that think tankers and experts can utilize this TAEF-GTI project as a useful platform to understand better Taiwan’s NSP and the expectations from the government and people of Taiwan.
I am particularly grateful to GTI for arranging important meetings and dialogues in December 2023 as a part of the third-year project. In addition to personally participating in engagements with think tank leaders and experts in Washington D.C., I also visited several key think tanks during my visit to explain the achievements of the NSP during President Tsai Ing-wen’s administration, and reaffirm that Taiwan will continue to deepen the NSP and our commitment to serve as a responsible and trustworthy Indo-Pacific partner for like-minded countries and partners in the Indo-Pacific Region.
I also look forward to the continued development of cooperation between the TAEF and partner think tanks, such as the GTI, for enhancing policy and social influence in the region, as well as jointly building a more resilient, prosperous, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.