This symposium will explore the complex cultural, historical and political interactions among the Republic of China, People’s Republic of China and the United States with a view to maintaining de facto peace and defending human rights on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The symposium poster is available here.

REGISTRATION

Register for the in-person and virtual symposium here. This event is free.

Program

8:30                 In-Person Check-In

8:45                 Welcoming Remarks

9:00-12:00      Presentations

“Peace through Understanding?: A Survey of Taiwan’s Historical Trajectories”
Evan Dawley, Associate Professor of History, Goucher College

“The Taiwan Tangle”
Sulmaan Wasif Khan, Denison Chair of International History, Fletcher School, Tufts University

“Why and How Taiwan Became an Issue in U.S. Relations with China”
Richard C. Bush, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution

“Taiwan’s Domestic Politics: Views on U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations”
Sara A. Newland, Associate Professor of Government, Smith College

12:00-1:00      Lunch

1:00-4:00        Presentations

“What’s Driving the U.S. and China to Compete—and Possibly Fight—in Taiwan"
Brian C. H. Fong, Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean, College of Social Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University (Taiwan)

“Strategic Ambiguity is the Only Option for Peace and Security in the Taiwan Strait”
Michael D. Swaine, Senior Research Fellow, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft”

“Staying Out: A Strategy for Recalibrating U.S. Support for Taiwan”
Jennifer Kavanagh, Director of Military Analysis, Defense Priorities

“The Risk of Nuclear Escalation and Humanitarian Crisis in a Taiwan Conflict”
Tong Zhao, Senior Fellow, Nuclear Policy Program and Carnegie China, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

4:00                 Closing Remarks

Sponsors: Alison Des Forges Memorial Committee; University at Buffalo: Asian Studies Program; Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy; Departments of Comparative Literature, Global Gender and Sexuality Studies, History, and Political Science; Gender Institute; Humanities Institute; James Agee Chair in American Culture; Office of the Vice Provost for International Education.

This symposium honors the life and work of human rights activist Alison Des Forges (1942-2009).