Date：July 10,2017
MAC News Release No.49
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) today (July 10, 2017) stated that the international symposium on "Cross-Strait Relations Re-examined: Toward a New Normal?" will be held in Washington, D.C. on July 13th (US Eastern Standard Time). The MAC entrusted the Institute of International Relations, at National Chengchi University and the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) to jointly hold the one-day symposium. MAC First Deputy Minister Lin Cheng-yi will attend the opening ceremony and present a keynote address.
The MAC indicated that prominent scholars and experts from Taiwan and abroad were invited to present papers and exchange views on topics related to Taiwan-US-China relations, internal developments in mainland China, and the development of cross-Strait relations. Scholars participating from Taiwan this year (2017) included Director of the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University Arthur S. Ding, Research Fellow of the Institute of European and American Studies (IEAS), Academia Sinica Joanne J. L. Chang, IEAS Associate Research Fellow David Wei-Feng Huang, Professor Ming-Hsien Wong at the Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies, Tamkang University, President of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy Hsu Szu-chien, and Assistant Professor Chelsea Chou at the Graduate Institute of National Development, National Taiwan University. Scholars attending from the US included CSIS Senior Vice President Michael J. Green, Deputy Director of the CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies Scott Kennedy, CSIS Senior Advisor Bonnie Glaser, CSIS Senior Advisor Andrew Shearer, CSIS Senior Fellow Zack Cooper, CSIS Senior Associate Robert Wang, US-Taiwan Business Council President Rupert Hammond-Chambers, Davidson College Professor Shelley Rigger, Smith College Emeritus Professor Steven Goldstein, University of Denver Professor Zhao Suisheng, and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Vice President Douglas Paal. American Institute in Taiwan Chairman James Moriarty also attended and presented a luncheon keynote address.
The MAC stated that, since taking office, President Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in cross-Strait relations. Facing the current complexities of cross-Strait relations and challenges presented by the changing situation in the East Asian region, the government will pragmatically promote the development of cross-Strait relations, staunchly defend Taiwan's interests and values, and fulfill its responsibility to maintain peace in the region and across the Taiwan Strait. The MAC also indicated that the symposium has been jointly held by Taiwan and US think tanks for eight years. Through academic exchanges, the symposium discusses important cross-Strait issues, broadly promotes attention to the importance of cross-Strait relations, and provides the government with a wider angle perspective for planning cross-Strait policies. MAC Deputy Minister Lin also plans to visit US officials and important think tanks in Washington, D.C. and New York to exchange views on cross-Strait relations.