The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York (TECO) and the New York think tank “Network 20/20” co-hosted a seminar on May 22 titled “Looking ahead: The Security and Economic Policy Direction of the Tsai Government.” The seminar focused on Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s statements in her inaugural speech regarding Taiwan’s sovereignty, the military threat from the Chinese Communist Party, and cross-strait interactions, analyzing the impact of the Tsai government’s policy direction on the economic, trade, and security relations in the Taiwan Strait. International strategic experts believe that Tsai Ing-wen has extended an olive branch of peace to the Chinese government while also warning the Taiwanese people to be vigilant against the Chinese threat, demonstrating a practical approach in her policies.
The seminar was moderated by Katherine Wilhelm, Executive Director of the Asia Law Institute at New York University, with Bonny Lin, Director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, leading the discussion on security issues, and Riley Walters, Senior Research Fellow at the Hudson Institute, leading the discussion on economic and trade issues.
Bonny Lin, Director of the China Power Project, pointed out that compared to Tsai Ing-wen’s inaugurations in 2016 and 2020, this year saw more heads of state attending the inauguration of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. In addition to the largest delegation of Japanese parliamentarians, there was also broad support from advanced democratic countries. Tsai Ing-wen’s inaugural speech continues the cross-strait policy of the Tsai government. However, when mentioning maintaining peace and the current situation across the strait while calling for dialogue with Beijing, she also reminded the Taiwanese people not to naively perceive the Chinese threat, indicating that the Tsai government’s policies follow a realistic approach.
Lin noted that Beijing has expressed protest over Tsai Ing-wen’s inaugural speech and is likely to continue using the “grey zone strategy” to intimidate Taiwan through both verbal attacks and military coercion.
Researcher Riley Walters expressed optimism about Taiwan’s overall development, stating that Taiwan-U.S. relations will further deepen through enhancing the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), the Technology Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TTIC), and the Taiwan-U.S. 21st Century Trade Initiative for closer economic and trade cooperation. He also looks forward to Tsai’s mention in her inaugural speech that Taiwan will enter the era of artificial intelligence and technological revolution, continuing to play a key role in the global democratic supply chain.
In his speech, Director-General Li Guangzhang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York stated that the new government, lacking majority support in the legislature for its policy proposals, is facing unprecedented challenges. The new government will bear the responsibility of safeguarding Taiwan’s hard-won democratic and economic achievements, defending its sovereignty while improving cross-strait relations. In the complex geopolitical environment, it will lead the people towards the next stage of success.
Network 20/20, founded by educator Patricia Huntington following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, is a non-profit organization aimed at enhancing the American public’s understanding of international affairs, connecting the private sector with the foreign policy community, and promoting members’ understanding and discussion of foreign policy and global challenges. Members are primarily elites from various sectors such as finance, technology, and the medical field. The video content of this seminar will be uploaded to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office’s YouTube channel and the Network 20/20 official website.