MSU conference looks at Taiwan, China relations

MSU will sponsor a weekend forum on its campus April 1–2 where scholars and officials from Taiwan, China and the United States will converge to discuss Taiwan’s external relations with the global community.

Saturday’s sessions will run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday’s sessions will run 9 a.m. to noon at Plaster Student Union. Click here for a complete schedule.

Sessions include examinations of Taiwan’s approach to foreign affairs and Taiwan’s relationship with both China and the United States.

“It is difficult, if not impossible, for the three sides in the Taiwan-China dispute to talk to each other directly,” said Dennis Hickey, conference organizer and MSU political science professor, in a news release. “In fact, talks between China and Taiwan have been shelved since the mid-1990s. Hence, it is common practice for the three sides to use academic forums to exchange ideas and report back to their respective governments.”

Hickey calls the conference particularly relevant because of President Bush’s upcoming summit with Chinese President Hu Jintao in April and the recent dissolution of the National Unification Council.

Conference participants will include representatives from the American Institute in Taiwan, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, the World United Formosans for Independence, the Coordination Council for North American Affairs in Taipei, U.S. Congress’ U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Beijing Center for American Studies, Jiao Tong University in Shanghai and the School of Advanced Military Studies.

The event is free and open to the public.[[In-content Ad]]