Scholars Gather at the University of St. Thomas for the Taiwan Studies Biennial Symposium

The 2017 Taiwan Studies Biennial Symposium took place on April 22, 2017 at the University of St. Thomas. Fifteen scholars from across the United States and Taiwan presented some of their research findings on Taiwan’s domestic development, Taiwan’s relations with the United States, and relations in the region.
Louis Huang, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Houston, gave welcome remarks at the opening, and during lunch, Sophie Chou, Director of the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Houston gave a presentation on “Building Sustainable Taiwan Studies Programs through Partnership”, and Dr. Shelley Rigger, Chair of Chinese Studies at Davidson College, presented the keynote address: “Taiwan in the Age of Trump: the Best of Times, the Worst of Times, or Something in Between?” during the dinner banquet in the evening. Her unique observations and humorous speech brought the house down. Nearly a hundred people attended this very informative and enjoyable event and shared their ideas, experiences, and concerns regarding Taiwan’s past, present, and future.
This symposium hosted by the Center for International Studies of the University of St. Thomas was funded by the Taiwan Studies Program of the Ministry of Education. The Taiwan Studies project at the University of St. Thomas was launched in May 2016. It is one of 44 Taiwan Studies projects that have been initiated at 35 world-class universities in 16 countries and regions, in Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania since the Taiwan Studies Program began in 2003. These projects focus on research fields such as economics, history, politics, society, literature, Chinese language, arts, and film, depending on the particular university.