On May 29, a seminar was jointly organized by the Atlanta Office and the Walker Institute of International and Area Studies to discuss the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, the inauguration of Taiwan’s new government, and recent developments such as China’s military exercises around Taiwan. The event aimed to analyze the implications of these factors on the Taiwan-US-China relationship and global dynamics. The seminar featured five prominent speakers including Michael Beckley, author of “Danger Zone”, Jacques deLisle, a senior scholar from the German Marshall Fund, Todd McCaffrey, Director of the South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs (Retired Army Brigadier General), Philip Chritton, visiting scholar at Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, and Professor Xie Fusheng from the University of South Carolina. Nearly 200 attendees participated in person or via video, including high-profile figures like Harry Lightsey, Secretary of Commerce for South Carolina, Deputy Secretary of State Melissa Dunlap, Consul General of Guatemala Jorge Archila, and several district directors of US Senators.
During his speech, Director Wang Yilong of the Atlanta Office emphasized the close ties between Taiwan and the United States in areas such as security, economy, education, and culture, crediting the Taiwan Relations Act enacted by the US Congress in 1979 for playing a crucial role in fostering these relations. He also underscored that the United Nations Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan’s status, does not preclude meaningful Taiwanese participation in international organizations, and does not endorse China’s One-China principle. He highlighted the importance of the Indo-Pacific Security Assistance Act passed by the US Congress last month as a strong international endorsement for Taiwan’s stability and security, showcasing Taiwan’s indispensable role in the global arena.
Speaker Michael Beckley emphasized that China’s staging of military exercises around Taiwan not only threatens Taiwan but also poses a threat to Western democratic allies. While the timing of potential Chinese military action against Taiwan cannot be predicted, Beckley cautioned against expecting China to bring peace to the region, suggesting that Xi Jinping prioritizes the Taiwan issue due to Taiwan’s significance in chip manufacturing. Beckley proposed that strengthening military cooperation between Taiwan and the US could potentially delay China’s actions regarding Taiwan. Jacques deLisle elaborated on UN Resolution 2758, clarifying that it only addresses the People’s Republic of China’s membership without mentioning Taiwan, highlighting the absence of any reference to the One-China principle. DeLisle emphasized the importance for the US to balance its policy towards cross-strait relations through documents like the US-China Joint Communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act. Todd McCaffrey drew on his practical experience stationed at US military bases in Hawaii to analyze the geographical proximity of Taiwan, the Philippines, Okinawa, Guam, and Hawaii in relation to the swift deployment of US military resources during crises, advocating for increased US military assistance to Taiwan in anticipation of potential Chinese aggression. Philip Chritton shared insights from his trade and business expertise, dissecting China’s influential role in key industries’ supply chains and its vast consumer market, making it challenging for international companies to sever ties with China. Chritton emphasized that despite China’s need for continued foreign investment for economic development, political, diplomatic, and military considerations would outweigh commercial interests in the context of US-China conflicts. Professor Xie Fusheng highlighted that a majority of Taiwanese public opinion currently leans towards maintaining the status quo and supports enhanced people-to-people exchanges and academic cooperation across the strait in order to reduce hostility. He also pointed out China’s heavy dependence on food and energy imports, suggesting that international sanctions could significantly impact its economy, and portraying China’s recent military maneuvers around Taiwan as part of its customary intimidation tactics, indicating that China’s current strength falls short of engaging in a conflict recklessly.
The Walker Institute of International and Area Studies at the University of South Carolina, which has long focused on Taiwan studies, collaborated for the second time with the Atlanta Office for this seminar following their first event held last September post-pandemic. The participation and enthusiasm of attendees at this seminar surpassed previous years.
(Abridged version of Atlanta Office press release)