Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

As the local media continue to ponder over the events in Kabul, many have rightly pointed out the folly of comparing Afghanistan with Taiwan. Culturally, politically, economically and geographically, the two countries are poles apart. Nevertheless, the hasty withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, and the country’s return to rule under the oppressive Taliban regime, has ignited a debate within Taiwan over whether the US can be relied upon to come to its defense.

On Tuesday last week, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) wrote on Facebook: “I want to tell everyone that Taiwan’s only option is to make ourselves stronger, more united and more resolute in our determination to protect ourselves.”

As this year marks the fifth anniversary of the New Southbound Policy (NSP) the time is ripe to evaluate the challenges and opportunities brought about by the nation’s pivot to the south.

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, international cooperation has not come to a halt; in fact, recent instances of closer cooperation on public health issues might be viewed as a catalyst for the return of multilateralism in global politics.

Consequently, it is important to evaluate the mechanisms and the extent to which the policy can facilitate Taiwan’s inclusion in multilateral partnerships within and beyond the policy’s 18 target countries. Specifically, potential synergies between the policy and the EU’s strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region merits further consideration.