Episode #71 - November 2024

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Over the past three years, several seemingly frozen conflicts (Sudan, Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Gaza, Armenia/Azerbaijan, etc) have broke out into hot conflicts that are challenging the current international order. There is, however, one of the longest standing potential flashpoints that has not entered the fray, but is listed as one issue that could embroil the world. That is the unresolved issue of cross-strait relations between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC), also known as the island of Taiwan. For more than seventy years, the question of who controls Taiwan has simmered just under the surface of geopolitical tensions, as the PRC continues to claim control of Taiwan, while recognizing that reunification is necessary (the juxtaposition here is insightful). The ROC continues to maintain that the political status of Taiwan can only be decided by the people of Taiwan, who currently support maintaining the status quo (having their own democracy, while not openly trying to claim full independence).

In this episode we speak with Director General Charles Liao of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in Boston. As the US and Taiwan do not maintain official relations, they do not maintain an embassy or series of consulates throughout the US, so these offices act as the representatives of the ROC in the US. Listen to gain insights into the current state of cross-strait relations and how the ROC views their relationship with the PRC. This becomes increasingly important as the PRC continues to ramp up military drills surrounding Taiwan, increasing the chances for a miscalculation or accident that can lead to all out war. In an age where military might has returned to the global stage as a way to resolve conflicts, the question of Taiwan and how to encourage a diplomatic resolution remains one of the most important of the day.

As mentioned in the podcast introduction, if you are interested in learning more about what foreign policy might look like as the United States enters a second term for President Trump, please watch our conversation with Dan Negrea of the Atlantic Council and co-Author of "We Win, They Lose: Republican Foreign Policy and the New Cold War". You can watch the RECORDING HERE.

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Charles Liao is the Director-General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston. Prior to assuming his current position on August 3rd 2023, Mr. Liao was Deputy Secretary-General of the Taiwan Council for U.S. Affairs, seconded to Foreign Minister’s Office, from 2020 to 2023.

From 2014 to 2020, Mr. Liao served in Washington, D.C. as First Secretary and then Deputy Director at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States. He was Section Chief in the Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2010 to 2013. From 2004 to 2010, Mr. Liao served as Senior Consular Officer at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles.

Mr. Liao earned a Bachelor of Arts in Diplomacy from National Chengchi University in 1999. Mr. Liao is married to Nicole Chang and they have two daughters, Norah and Carice.

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