A Fireside Debate: Why Taiwan Matters and the US Election

Description:

Join 2024 Yale World Fellow Xu Heqian as he moderates a fireside debate on Why Taiwan Matters and the US Election. Panelists include Howard Shen (Director KMT office in DC), Fanny Chao (Former Assistant Analyst, Tsai Ying-wen administration of Taiwan), and Ouyang Bin (Associate Director, Center on US-China Relations, Asia Society).

As Taiwan’s geopolitical importance continues to grow, understanding the island’s trajectory—both in its role in maturing democracy in East Asia and its position in the global technology supply chain—has become increasingly vital. These factors, along with Taiwan’s role in the context of U.S.-China relations, are central to global stability.

As the outcome of the upcoming U.S. presidential election will have significant implications for Taiwan’s future and cross-strait relations, how do Taiwan’s political actors view the U.S. election, and what expectations do they hold? This fireside debate, “Why Taiwan Matters and the U.S. Election,” will bring together diverse voices to explore Taiwan’s political, industrial, and strategic significance from multiple perspectives.

The event will feature young policy advocates representing different political viewpoints from Taiwan, along with a scholar specializing in U.S.-China relations from mainland China. Together, they will engage in a candid discussion on Taiwan’s strategy in volatile international environments, cross-strait relations, and how U.S. foreign policy might evolve in response to these dynamics.