Oxford Taiwan Studies Annual Conference Focuses on Taiwan Amidst the Changing Indo-Pacific Regional Order
The annual Taiwan Studies conference was recently held at the University of Oxford, attracting about a hundred scholars and experts to discuss Taiwan's role and its connections with other countries in the shifting order of the Indo-Pacific region.
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- 📰 Published: May 16, 2026 at 08:08
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Central News Agency Message
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Yun-yu, London, 16th) The University of Oxford's Taiwan Studies Programme recently held its annual Taiwan Studies conference in Oxford, attracting about a hundred scholars, students, and individuals from various sectors in the UK and abroad who are concerned about the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. The conference explored Taiwan's role in the changing order of the Indo-Pacific region and its connections with other countries and regions from different national and thematic perspectives.
The conference, which took place on the 14th, invited scholars from Taiwan, the UK, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, and other places to present their research findings and serve as panelists. Pi Tsu-an, Director of the Education Division at the Taipei Representative Office in the UK, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.
Pi stated that Taiwan studies is not just an academic initiative but a long-term investment in promoting mutual understanding. Through Taiwan studies, scholars and students can gain a deep and balanced understanding of Taiwan from aspects such as democracy, society, history, culture, economics, and international relations.
He mentioned that the range of issues involving Taiwan is not to be underestimated, covering regional security, democratic resilience, supply chains, technological development, and the international order, all of which are closely related to the future of the Indo-Pacific region.
Pi pointed out that the University of Oxford has a deep tradition in regional and global studies. The development of Taiwan studies at Oxford can integrate interdisciplinary perspectives from politics, history, sociology, economics, international relations, and anthropology, helping all sectors to move beyond the preset frameworks of news headlines and media narratives to gain a more nuanced and profound understanding of Taiwan and its environment.
Pi said the Ministry of Education is pleased to continue supporting the Oxford Taiwan Studies Programme, hoping to continue cultivating a new generation of scholars, deepening international academic cooperation, and strengthening the academic foundation of Taiwan studies in the UK and globally.
Dr. Po-chun Ching, Director and Senior Research Fellow of the University of Oxford's Taiwan Studies Programme, noted that this year's conference coincided with high global attention on the US-China summit and the visit of a cross-party legislative delegation led by Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu to the UK. This further highlights the importance and urgency of issues such as the Taiwan issue, regional alliances, economic resilience, and changes in the Indo-Pacific regional order.
Ching mentioned that one of the key goals of the conference is to move Taiwan studies beyond 'cross-strait relations' and place Taiwan in the broader context of the Indo-Pacific region, while also observing how neighboring countries like Japan, South Korea, India, Vietnam, and New Zealand are responding to the rapidly changing international environment.
Furthermore, the participating scholars came from different professional fields such as politics, economics, international relations, area studies, security studies, and foreign policy, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of Taiwan studies.
According to the agenda, the conference had three main discussion topics: US-China competition and Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific region; Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea in Northeast Asia; and other Indo-Pacific countries: India, Vietnam, and New Zealand.
Taiwanese scholars who presented and participated in discussions included Dr. Chun-yi Lee, Director of the Taiwan Studies Programme at the University of Nottingham, Dr. Yeh-chung Lu, Deputy CEO of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and Dr. Chung-min Tsai, a professor of political science at National Chengchi University. (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150516
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Yun-yu, London, 16th) The University of Oxford's Taiwan Studies Programme recently held its annual Taiwan Studies conference in Oxford, attracting about a hundred scholars, students, and individuals from various sectors in the UK and abroad who are concerned about the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. The conference explored Taiwan's role in the changing order of the Indo-Pacific region and its connections with other countries and regions from different national and thematic perspectives.
The conference, which took place on the 14th, invited scholars from Taiwan, the UK, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, and other places to present their research findings and serve as panelists. Pi Tsu-an, Director of the Education Division at the Taipei Representative Office in the UK, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.
Pi stated that Taiwan studies is not just an academic initiative but a long-term investment in promoting mutual understanding. Through Taiwan studies, scholars and students can gain a deep and balanced understanding of Taiwan from aspects such as democracy, society, history, culture, economics, and international relations.
He mentioned that the range of issues involving Taiwan is not to be underestimated, covering regional security, democratic resilience, supply chains, technological development, and the international order, all of which are closely related to the future of the Indo-Pacific region.
Pi pointed out that the University of Oxford has a deep tradition in regional and global studies. The development of Taiwan studies at Oxford can integrate interdisciplinary perspectives from politics, history, sociology, economics, international relations, and anthropology, helping all sectors to move beyond the preset frameworks of news headlines and media narratives to gain a more nuanced and profound understanding of Taiwan and its environment.
Pi said the Ministry of Education is pleased to continue supporting the Oxford Taiwan Studies Programme, hoping to continue cultivating a new generation of scholars, deepening international academic cooperation, and strengthening the academic foundation of Taiwan studies in the UK and globally.
Dr. Po-chun Ching, Director and Senior Research Fellow of the University of Oxford's Taiwan Studies Programme, noted that this year's conference coincided with high global attention on the US-China summit and the visit of a cross-party legislative delegation led by Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu to the UK. This further highlights the importance and urgency of issues such as the Taiwan issue, regional alliances, economic resilience, and changes in the Indo-Pacific regional order.
Ching mentioned that one of the key goals of the conference is to move Taiwan studies beyond 'cross-strait relations' and place Taiwan in the broader context of the Indo-Pacific region, while also observing how neighboring countries like Japan, South Korea, India, Vietnam, and New Zealand are responding to the rapidly changing international environment.
Furthermore, the participating scholars came from different professional fields such as politics, economics, international relations, area studies, security studies, and foreign policy, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of Taiwan studies.
According to the agenda, the conference had three main discussion topics: US-China competition and Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific region; Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea in Northeast Asia; and other Indo-Pacific countries: India, Vietnam, and New Zealand.
Taiwanese scholars who presented and participated in discussions included Dr. Chun-yi Lee, Director of the Taiwan Studies Programme at the University of Nottingham, Dr. Yeh-chung Lu, Deputy CEO of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and Dr. Chung-min Tsai, a professor of political science at National Chengchi University. (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150516