The Chicago Forum
U.S. Rebalancing to Asia and Taiwan’s Geo-economic Place in the Pacific
A Public Affairs Symposium Sponsored by the Grassroots Diplomacy Council-Taiwan Benevolent Association of America
DATE | 15 August 2014
LOCATION | Chicago Marriott Southwest | 1200 Burr Ridge Pkwy, Burr Ridge, IL 60527
To enhance public understanding of American policies toward Asia and help promote closer U.S.-Taiwan partnership, the Taiwan Benevolent Association of America (TBAA) will hold a conference on “U.S. Rebalancing to Asia and Taiwan’s Geo-economic Place in the Pacific” on Friday, August 15, 2014.
As President Obama stated, America’s future is deeply intertwined with Asia-Pacific. As a Pacific Power, the United States has critical national interests, values, allies, and friends in that region. Former National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon singled out that “the center of our economic rebalancing is the Trans Pacific Partnership.” The Republic of China on Taiwan is a vibrant democracy (the only one in all ethnic Chinese societies), an economic powerhouse, and occupies a crucial link for the peace and stability of the Western Pacific. As such, it is an important trade, value, and security partner for the U.S.
Conference Theme and Objective: This conference will examine Taiwan’s geo-economic place in the Asia-Pacific in light of the U.S. Rebalancing Policy, discuss the larger context of Taiwan’s foreign policy and economic strategies in the Asia Pacific region, and focus on Taiwan’s plan to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). By focusing on the TPP and its implications for Taiwan, this conference hopes to facilitate an ongoing dialogue among scholars, analysts, and policymakers. The topics to be covered include:
Conference Organizer: TBAA, a non-profit civic organization of Taiwanese-Americans founded in 1978, with 24 chapters, endeavors to promote the interests of Taiwanese-Americans in the U.S. and to increase public awareness of issues related to Taiwan. One priority is to strengthen linkages with American universities, research organizations, and think tanks. Since 2010, we have partnered with University of Southern California (2014), Stanford University (2011), and Heritage Foundation, (2014, 2013 and 2010), to name a few.
DATE | 15 August 2014
LOCATION | Chicago Marriott Southwest | 1200 Burr Ridge Pkwy, Burr Ridge, IL 60527
To enhance public understanding of American policies toward Asia and help promote closer U.S.-Taiwan partnership, the Taiwan Benevolent Association of America (TBAA) will hold a conference on “U.S. Rebalancing to Asia and Taiwan’s Geo-economic Place in the Pacific” on Friday, August 15, 2014.
As President Obama stated, America’s future is deeply intertwined with Asia-Pacific. As a Pacific Power, the United States has critical national interests, values, allies, and friends in that region. Former National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon singled out that “the center of our economic rebalancing is the Trans Pacific Partnership.” The Republic of China on Taiwan is a vibrant democracy (the only one in all ethnic Chinese societies), an economic powerhouse, and occupies a crucial link for the peace and stability of the Western Pacific. As such, it is an important trade, value, and security partner for the U.S.
Conference Theme and Objective: This conference will examine Taiwan’s geo-economic place in the Asia-Pacific in light of the U.S. Rebalancing Policy, discuss the larger context of Taiwan’s foreign policy and economic strategies in the Asia Pacific region, and focus on Taiwan’s plan to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). By focusing on the TPP and its implications for Taiwan, this conference hopes to facilitate an ongoing dialogue among scholars, analysts, and policymakers. The topics to be covered include:
- Taiwan’s importance and deficiencies in regional economy, security, and democracy,
- the economic and politico-strategic cases for Taiwan’s membership in the TPP,
- the diplomatic, legal, and economic issues surrounding Taiwan’s accession to the TPP,
- implications for U.S.-Taiwan relations as seen in their participation in the TPP,
- Taiwan’s relations with other signatories to the TPP, including those in Southeast Asia and South America,
- relationship among TPP, RCEP, and FTAAP (complementarity or tradeoff),
- specific questions about the intersections between diplomacy and economics raised by the TPP, including intellectual property law, agricultural imports and exports, and so on.
- roadmap, strategies, and approaches for Taiwan’s TPP bid: advice for Taiwan (externally and internally),
- advice for the United States.
Conference Organizer: TBAA, a non-profit civic organization of Taiwanese-Americans founded in 1978, with 24 chapters, endeavors to promote the interests of Taiwanese-Americans in the U.S. and to increase public awareness of issues related to Taiwan. One priority is to strengthen linkages with American universities, research organizations, and think tanks. Since 2010, we have partnered with University of Southern California (2014), Stanford University (2011), and Heritage Foundation, (2014, 2013 and 2010), to name a few.
Michael Y.K. Tseng
AGENDA
14:00-14:30 Welcoming Remarks and Presentation of Appreciation Plaques
14:30-15:15 Keynote Speech (Followed by Q&A)
15:15-15:30 Coffee Break
15:30-17:00 Roundtable Panel
14:00-14:30 Welcoming Remarks and Presentation of Appreciation Plaques
- John Wu, President, Taiwan Benevolent Association of America
- Lyushun Shen, Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States
14:30-15:15 Keynote Speech (Followed by Q&A)
- Michael Y.K. Tseng, Deputy Chief Negotiator, ROC (Taiwan)
15:15-15:30 Coffee Break
15:30-17:00 Roundtable Panel
- Moderator: Vincent Wang, TBAA and University of Richmond
- Arthur Cyr, Distinguished Professor of Political Economy and World Business, Carthage College
- Richard Friedman, Senior Fellow, National and Urban Security, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
- Phil Levy, Senior Fellow on the Global Economy, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
- Chang-Tai Hsieh, Phyllis and Irwin Winkelried Professor of Economics, University of Chicago
West Coast Forum
The Asia Pacific in 2014 | Rebalancing, Cross-Strait Relations, and Regional Economic Integration
A Public Affairs Symposium Co-sponsored by the University of Southern California US-China Institute, University of Richmond, the Grassroots Diplomacy Council-Taiwan Benevolent Association of America, and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles
DATE | February 7, 2014
LOCATION | University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism
AGENDA
9:30-9:45 | Welcoming Remarks
9:45-10:45 | Keynote Address
11:00-12:00 | Roundtable Discussion
12:00 | Lunch
DATE | February 7, 2014
LOCATION | University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism
AGENDA
9:30-9:45 | Welcoming Remarks
- Clayton Dube, Executive Director, USC US-China Institute
- John Wu, President, Taiwan Benevolent Association of America
- Bruce J.D. Linghu, Director-General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles
- Reading statements by Congressman Ed Royce and Congresswoman Judy Chu
9:45-10:45 | Keynote Address
- Andrew N.D. Yang, Former Minister of Defense, Republic of China
11:00-12:00 | Roundtable Discussion
- Clayton Dube, Executive Director, USC US-China Institute
- Saori Katada, Associate Professor, University of Southern California
- Vincent Wang, Professor, University of Richmond
- Stanley Rosen, Professor, University of Southern California
- Etel Solingen, Professor, University of California, Irvine
12:00 | Lunch
Taiwan’s Economic Place in the Pacific
In commemoration of the 35th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, the Taiwan Benevolent Association of America, in cooperation with the Heritage Foundation, will examine Taiwan's place in the regional economy and the case for its participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on June 4. Taiwan continues to face challenges due to formal economic isolation with respect to regional economic architecture. Our distinguished panelists will help focus attention on this issue, as both the United States and Taiwan explore ways forward.
Taiwan Perspective
- Dale Wen-chieh Jieh | Director-General | Department of Policy Planning | MOFA | Taiwan
- Kwei-Bo Huang, Ph.D. | Secretary General | Association of Foreign Relations | Taiwan
- Jeff Chien-Fu Lin, Ph.D. | Professor | Graduate Institute of Economics | National Taiwan University
- Vincent Wang, Ph.D. (Moderator) | TBAA and Associate Dean | University of Richmond
- Scott Miller | Senior Advisor and School Chair in International Business | CSIS
- Tami Overby | Vice President for Asia | U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Walter Lohman | Director | Asian Studies Center
