Time:
11:00am-1:00pm on Saturday April 30, 2005
Location: G1 Auditorium, Uris Hall, Cornell University
Speaker: Dr. Ming-Min Peng, Senior Advisor of
the President of Taiwan
Theme: "The Case of Taiwanese"
Content: As one of the main
activists lobbying for the draft of Taiwan Relations
Act passed by the US Congress in 1979, Dr. Peng will
share with us his remarkable experience of promoting
close relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan as well
as discuss the U.S. diplomatic policy toward countries
in East Asia. Particular emphasis will be placed on
how the Taiwan Relations Act has played/will play out
in forming a dynamic tie among U.S., Taiwan, and China
in the drastically changing economical and political
environment in the western pacific region.
Background
Asia's rapid growth is dramatic: the emerging
markets in the Western Pacific region are now one
of the most active participants in the global community.
Its tremendous potential, in terms of natural resources,
human resources, and financial market, has drawn intensive
attentions from the world. Turning into a center of
convergence for the new century's wealth, innovation
and ideas, Asia, with its unique political situation
and cultural background, represents the most intriguing
case of this world's continuous advance toward globalization.
Among the nations that accomplished economic and
political achievement in East Asia, Taiwan has particularly
built a longstanding relationship with the United
States. The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) passed in the
Congress in 1979, exemplifies the shared values and
mutual interests between these two countries. The
TRA not only has served as the framework for US diplomatic
policy in the Western Pacific in the past 25 years,
but has acted as a guideline to build a stronger partnership
between the U.S. and Taiwan . It is also from the
U.S.'s perspective that the TRA is the key to sustain
peace and stability in that region, as indicated by
the Assistant Secretary James Kelly, in the 25th anniversary
of the enactment of the TRA. Therefore, the TRA provides
an appropriate and yet unique approach-for an academic
institution that is interested in the U.S.'s participation
to East Asia's modernization.
As proposed in this ambitious project, we will invite
Dr. Ming-Min Peng, a renowned political scientist
from Taiwan, to visit Cornell at the end of April.
In his speech on April 30th, Dr. Peng will discourse
on the world's persistent watchfulness for the Western
Pacific. Through the speaker's extensive experience
as a key player in 1979's passing of the TRA, the
Cornell audience will have a chance to gain an extraordinary
insight into all those bilateral efforts in developing/holding
a strong relationship between the United States and
Taiwan.
Besides the planned event, we are seeking to raise
awareness and promote relevant discussions of the
subject on the Cornell campus. We strongly believe
that communication means better understanding among
people from all groups, and thus a better sense of
community here.
Objectives
There are three objectives we hope to accomplish through
this event.
First, the speech itself will introduce the subject
that is of great academic interests for related studies
on campus, such as Politics, Government, Asia Study,
Law, and Business. For general audience, the on-campus
event will provide an opportunity to get a deliberate
review for U.S. interests and participation embodied
in U.S. diplomatic policy. A strong partnership is
built between the people of Taiwan and the U.S., and
a detailed discussion for their shared values should
be helpful for any further interactions.
Second, we hope that Cornell will benefit from its
students' effort in "promoting" the school's
visibility. Being able to successfully invite a world-known
scholar, we have drawn attention from both the U.S.
and the Taiwan's societies. This invitation is also
strongly supported by the Cornell alumni in Taiwan.
Such collaboration helps to create an even-stronger
bond between the university and its alumni around
the world.
As Cornell has a statement on a diverse and inclusive
educational environment-"Open Doors, Open Hearts,
Open Minds", it is very important for international
students to get a direct participation in this big
family. Unlike most activities that are held by international
students' clubs, this event started with a clear vision
that must appeal to the entire Cornell community and
hence eventually takes a form of a public speech that
will focus on subjects of international relations.
On the other hand, since this project is so big that
no single student group can possibly afford, we have
partnered with other schools deliberately . As we
believe we are actually opening a new dimension for
international students' activities, we are hoping
that our event will stimulate and facilitate similar
undertakings in the future.
Project team
Coordinator:
Jun-Dar Su (Applied Physics)
Faculty advisor:
Prof. Yung-Fu Chang (Population Medicine and Diagnostic
Science)
Logistic:
Chin-Jen Ku (Ph.D., Cornell University)
Chia-Hsin Ju (Food Science)
Yu-Wen Chiu (Architecture)
PR/Marketing:
Claire S. Huang (Johnson School)
Taiwan liaison: Dr. Tang-Long Shen (Ph.D., Cornell
University)
Prof. Bao-Ji Chen (Ph.D., Cornell University)
General:
Lin-Yuan Wang (ILR)
Appendix
- Introduction
Dr. Ming-Min PENG (MS Word)
- Taiwan
Relations Act
- "TRA at 25" April 21 hearing of the
House International Relations Committee in 2004
- Rep.
Leach Says U.S. Remains Committed to Taiwan Relations
Act
- Kelly
Says Taiwan Relations Act Key to West Pacific Stability
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