Event Date: November 27, 2019 - 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Location: FSS 4004, 120 University Private

The Asian Studies Network at CIPS, the School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies & UOttawa Research Chair on Taiwan Studies present:

On January 11, 2020, Taiwan will hold its 7th direct election for President. Although there are other issues, this is the first time that the most important issue is China. The incumbent, Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), promises to maintain the status quo in Cross-straits relations. The main challenger Han Kuo-yu (KMT), is for closer relations with China but has, in the light of Hong Kong events, rejected China’s model of “one country, two systems.” Nonetheless, the results will shape possibilities for further evolution in Taiwan’s relations with China and the world. 

Taiwan is important to Canada. This country of 23.8 million people is Canada’s 12th largest trading partner in the world and the 5th in Asia.  Taiwan, as home to the world’s largest semiconductor foundry, is a lynchpin in the global production chain of our computers, smartphones, and AI. There are 60,000 Canadians living in Taiwan, and 200,000 people of Taiwanese descent in Canada. Because our lives are inter-connected, our shared prosperity is based on peace in the region. This makes Taiwanese politics, and Cross-straits relations, important for our future. What is coming up in 2020? 

Speakers (in alphabetical order): 

Robert Henderson, International Assessments and International Elections Monitoring, will analyze the Cross-straits implications of the 2020 election. 

Ron MacIntosh, former Canadian representative to Taiwan, will define a viable agenda for Canada-Taiwan relations in difficult times.

Scott Simon, CIPS and School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies, will discuss domestic considerations of the election in Taiwan. 

Photo credits

Tsai (Left): Office of the President, ROC (File:蔡英文官方元首肖像照_(cropped).png)

Han (Right): Kaohsiung Municipal Government (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:高雄市長_韓國瑜.jpg)