Taiwan Update: Present and future of the Australia-Taiwan relationship

The Australia-Taiwan Club (ATC) in partnership with Taiwanese Association of Australia Melbourne Chapter (TAAM) and the Australasian Taiwan Studies Association (ATSA) wish to cordially invite you to a special event, ‘The Taiwan Update: Reflections on the present and future of the Australia-Taiwan relationship’.

Overview

Taiwan has a unique status in the world. While many recognise the reality that it is a self-governing democracy separate from China without an official country status, it remains under constant pressure from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). With the majority of the world not recognising Taiwan as a country, United Nations (UN) Resolution 2758 has been utilised in recent years by the PRC as a means to inaccurately assert the argument that the PRC has legal sovereignty over Taiwan.

Notably, both the House of Representatives in Netherlands and Australia’s Senate have passed urgent resolutions earlier this year that affirm their support for Taiwan and reject Beijing’s misinterpretation of the resolution and claims on international law regarding Taiwan’s status.

We are very fortunate to have a special guest in Federal Labor Senator, Raff Ciccone, who will be delivering his remarks on Australia’s substantial relationship with Taiwan.

As a member of the Australian Senate that supported the passing of an urgency motion in support of Taiwan’s sovereignty, Senator Ciccone in May of this year also co-led a bipartisan parliamentary delegation to Taiwan for the inauguration of President William Lai and Vice President Hsiao Bi-Khim.

This forum will feature a discussion on the motion which the Australian senate passed regarding UN Resolution 2758, as well as Taiwan’s potential future inclusion in the Comprehensive Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Attendees will get to hear from academics, experts and knowledgeable voices who will discuss Taiwan’s status and potential ways in which the Australia-Taiwan relationship can be further developed.

Date: Monday 2nd December 2024

Time: 2:00pm – 5:00pm

Where: Conference Centre, State Library of Victoria

Please note, entry to the venue is via Entry #3 on La Trobe Street

Agenda

1:40pm – 2:00pm Registration

2:00pm -2:15pm Opening Address

Luke Donnellan, Chair, Australia Taiwan Club (ATC)

Representative from TECO (TBC)

2:10pm -3.00pm Keynote speech plus Q&A

Keynote address by Senator Raff Ciccone

3.00pm - 4.00pm Panel discussion

Enhancing Australia-Taiwan Relations

Chair: Associate Professor Lennon Chang, Deakin University; CEO, ATC

Panellists:

Mr Colin Heseltine, Former Australian Represetative to Taiwan

Mr Russell Jao, Aviation Consultant

Dr. Kevin Carrico, Monash University

4.00pm - 5.00pm Networking (Drinks and Canapes provided)

Please contact Andrew Farrugia (Secretary of ATC) / Lennon Chang (CEO of ATC) via the following email address if you have any questions: [email protected]

Host or Publisher Australia-Taiwan Club