Time:2013/1/21 

On January 14, 2013, a group of Harvard-based East Asia experts visited CISS and held a discussion on East Asian security issues with members of CISS. The group was headed by Professor Steven M. Goldstein, Associate of Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard University; other members included: Alan D. Romberg, Distinguished Fellow and Director of East Asia Program at The Stimson Center, Professor Robert S. Ross, Boston College and Associate of Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard University and Professor Joseph Fewsmith, Boston University.

During the discussion, the American scholars indicated that the Taiwan authorities consider the economic stimulus package, Diaoyu Islands dispute with Japan and U.S. rebalancing strategy in Asia as their policy priorities. It is expected that Mr. Ma Ying-jeou will keep the cross-strait relations stable and make it development in a constructive way in his second term as the top leader of Taiwan, but he does not have any specific agenda of holding a political dialogue between the top leaders of both sides of Taiwan strait and begin the talk for a peace agreement. The American scholars argued that time is not on the Mainland side regarding the future of cross-strait relations – whether toward to final reunification or keep the status quo, since the so-called “Taiwanese Consciousness” is continue to raise and wide-spread among the residents of Taiwan. However, the trilateral interactive relations among the Mainland, the U.S. and Taipei will remain positive; and the U.S. arm sales to Taiwan may not substantially increase in the near future.

Professor Zhu Feng presented the five major schools of thought that have the impact on the general public’s world view in China, analyzed the basic reasons for current tensions between China and Japan, which triggered by Diaoyu Islands territorial dispute. He pointed out the fact that now the unilateral administrative control of the islands by Japan has gone forever because of the dispute, and the Asian neighbor nations should watch out the future defense and security policies under the new LDP-led government dominated by extreme right wing politicians. The participants also exchanged their opinions about the Abe cabinet’s domestic and foreign policies, the possibility of preventing the Diaoyu Islands dispute from deterioration and American role in the dispute. 

The event was chaired by Professor Zhu Feng, Deputy Director of CISS. Professor Yuan Ming, Deputy Executive Director of CISS, Professor Wang Yong, Associate Professor Yu Wanli, Associate Professor Wang Dong and some graduate students of School of International Studies participated in the event.