2025 ANU Taiwan Update

Add to Calendar 2025-09-09 17:00:00 2025-09-10 20:30:00 2025 ANU Taiwan Update 2025 has seen Taiwan enter a period of increased uncertainty and instability. Along with the rest of the world, Taiwanese leaders have attempted to navigate the capricious whims of Donald Trump as he attempts to remake trade and international relations. The activities of China—both overt and covert—continue to threaten Taiwan’s sovereignty. And internally, the conflict between the Presidency and executive branch held by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and the Legislature held by the Nationalist Party (KMT) and their allies in the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), has led to legislative gridlock, an attempt at what some analysts have called a ‘constitutional coup’, challenges in the Constitutional court, and a mass recall of KMT member of the legislature. In this year’s Taiwan Update, four international experts will address these, and other, issues facing Taiwan. The keynote address will be given by Christina Lai of the Institute of Political Science at Academia Sinica on Taiwan’s economic statecraft. Chyungly Lee of National Chengchi University will discuss Taiwan’s energy security challenges. Alex Tan of Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha—University of Canterbury in Aotearoa New Zealand, will speak on Taiwan’s current political polarisation while Wu Chia-rong, also from Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha—University of Canterbury will introduce how Taiwanese Indigenous knowledge systems are being revitalized through video games. Continuing the theme of contemporary Indigenous Taiwan, this year we will be screening the 2022 feature film Gaga directed by the Atayal director Laha Mebow. This comedy-drama, with much of the dialogue spoken in Atayal, concerns a local election for township chief and reveals the tensions inherent between the ideologies and institutions of contemporary Taiwan and the Atayal practice of tribal law and practice — the gaga of the title. Laha Mebow will be present and will take part in a Q&A after the screening.The 2025 Taiwan Update will also be hosted in Wellington at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, view their program here. AcknowledgementThe Taiwan Update is an initiative under the ANU Taiwan Studies Program 2025-28, which is a partnership between the College of Asia and the Pacific at The Australian National University and the Ministry of Education, Republic of China (Taiwan). We especially thank the Political Science and International Relations programme at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington for co-hosting the 2025 Taiwan Update in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. The events associated with the 2025 ANU Taiwan Update will be co-programmed as part of the annual multicultural perspectives festival, Immersia 2025: Engaging with Asia and the Pacific. RSSS Auditorium + CIW Seminar Room ANU COLLEGE OF ASIA & THE PACIFIC cap.web@anu.edu.au Australia/Sydney public

Taiwan at a crossroads: politics, security, and culture in an era of uncertainty.

2025 has seen Taiwan enter a period of increased uncertainty and instability. Along with the rest of the world, Taiwanese leaders have attempted to navigate the capricious whims of Donald Trump as he attempts to remake trade and international relations. The activities of China—both overt and covert—continue to threaten Taiwan’s sovereignty. And internally, the conflict between the Presidency and executive branch held by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and the Legislature held by the Nationalist Party (KMT) and their allies in the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), has led to legislative gridlock, an attempt at what some analysts have called a ‘constitutional coup’, challenges in the Constitutional court, and a mass recall of KMT member of the legislature.

In this year’s Taiwan Update, four international experts will address these, and other, issues facing Taiwan. The keynote address will be given by Christina Lai of the Institute of Political Science at Academia Sinica on Taiwan’s economic statecraft. Chyungly Lee of National Chengchi University will discuss Taiwan’s energy security challenges. Alex Tan of Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha—University of Canterbury in Aotearoa New Zealand, will speak on Taiwan’s current political polarisation while Wu Chia-rong, also from Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha—University of Canterbury will introduce how Taiwanese Indigenous knowledge systems are being revitalized through video games.

Continuing the theme of contemporary Indigenous Taiwan, this year we will be screening the 2022 feature film Gaga directed by the Atayal director Laha Mebow. This comedy-drama, with much of the dialogue spoken in Atayal, concerns a local election for township chief and reveals the tensions inherent between the ideologies and institutions of contemporary Taiwan and the Atayal practice of tribal law and practice — the gaga of the title. Laha Mebow will be present and will take part in a Q&A after the screening.

The 2025 Taiwan Update will also be hosted in Wellington at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, view their program here.

Acknowledgement
The Taiwan Update is an initiative under the ANU Taiwan Studies Program 2025-28, which is a partnership between the College of Asia and the Pacific at The Australian National University and the Ministry of Education, Republic of China (Taiwan). We especially thank the Political Science and International Relations programme at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington for co-hosting the 2025 Taiwan Update in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.

The events associated with the 2025 ANU Taiwan Update will be co-programmed as part of the annual multicultural perspectives festival, Immersia 2025: Engaging with Asia and the Pacific.