International Doctoral Program in Asia-Pacific Studies

Congratulations! The Overall Defense Concept: An Asymmetric Approach to Taiwan’s Defense By Adm. Hsi-Min Lee, Adjunct Professor of IDAS is awarded Quality Publication of the 47th Golden Tripod Awards.

【Article by IDAS】 A delegation led by Professor Rory Medcalf AM from National Security College, Australian National University, accompanied by Mr. Rob Persson from the Australian Office in Taipei, visited National Chengchi University on September 20. Professor Wanying Yang, the Dean of the College of Social Sciences (CSS) together with a number of CSS faculty members extended a warm welcome to the delegation. As there are many similarities between the National Security College and International Programs such as IDAS and IMAS, during the meeting Professor Yang and Professor Medcalf discussed the possibility of opportunities for academic collaboration between the two sides in the future. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is a well-known scholar specializing in the field of security studies and Indo-Pacific strategies and, in particular, is famous for his work on the Indo-Pacific concept of the Asian strategic environment. With Professor Philip Hsiaopong Liu serving as the moderator, it was the IDAS’s honor to invite Professor Rory Medcalf AM to deliver a speech entitled “Deterrence and Balance: Australia’s Security Approach in the Disputes in the Indo-Pacific Region,” explaining why Australia is pursuing both deterrence and equilibrium at the same time, and what this means for regional order, including the future of Taiwan. Professor Medcalf AM illustrated the complexity of the Australian perspective in relation to the Indo-Pacific in two ways: an objective definition of a regional system and a strategic definition of a contested space. Emphasizing the latter, the core argument concerns harnessing regional multipolarity to address China’s regional ambitions. To this end, he spoke on the 3 pillars of Australian statecraft and their contribution to deterrence and strategic equilibrium. (1) The enduring security partnership with the USA and its allies must be managed with Australia’s own independent foreign policy. This is also balanced with Australia-China relations, which are currently in the process of stabilization. (2) Pursuit of regional security, which has evolved into the Indo-Pacific pillar to cultivate stronger security relations with other neighboring states. Lastly, (3) commitment to the rules-based international order observing the sovereign equality of Indo-Pacific states. All of these elements are aimed at addressing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific to assist in reconciling the bipolar US-China competition with the emerging multipolarity of the region. By drawing from a diverse audience, the Q & A session following the talk generated a very lively discussion about the issue of multipolarity in the region with a continued US presence, as well as Australia’s role in the Taiwan question. Professor Medcalf AM believed that there are no countervailing positions as the US continues to bolster the capabilities of regional states through its alliances, such as AUKUS, and to support democracies in the region. He added that it would be hard to imagine Australia staying away should the US involve itself in the question of Taiwan. That is, the issue would concern the degree of Australia’s involvement and not whether it should be involved. Subsequent questions centered around Australia’s bilateral relationship with other Indo-Pacific countries and strong interest was shown in the evolving relationships with Southeast Asian states, specifically in regard to defense engagements with Indonesia. Further afield, Australia's relations with India were also discussed in the context of closer coordination under QUAD in terms of maritime security architecture. To this, Professor Medcalf AM responded more generally that Australia is working on a more consultative approach to cooperation in order to foster stability based on democratic principles. Therefore, Australia’s Indo-Pacific strategy continues to have extensive interest in engagement, but also needs a balanced approach. Professor Medcalf AM presented a diverse perspective on Australia’s Indo-Pacific outlook, thereby greatly benefiting students from across the globe. The IDAS was greatly appreciative that Professor Medcalf AM had given an extremely exciting and insightful speech at the beginning of this semester. Even though it was Friday afternoon, the lecture room was still full. The talk attracted not only NCCU students but also outsiders, including people from foreign think tanks and mass media such as the New York Times. The IDAS will invite other guest speakers and welcome any interested persons to be part of the IDAS series in the future.

【Article by IDAS】 National Chengchi University’s International Doctor’s Program on Asia-Pacific Studies (IDAS) series presented Japan’s evolving approach to economic security under U.S.-China rivalry: a departure from the pacifist state? held on 13 May 2024. Dr. Liu Fu-Kuo from the Institute of International Relations (IIR) moderated the talk and introduced the guest speaker, Dr. Masahiro Matsumura, professor of International Politics at Momogama Gakuin University in Osaka, Japan. The talk presented an overview of the domestic impact of the Economic Security Promotion Law (ESPL), and whether Japan is pivoting away from the pacifist state since the end of World War II. His assessment of the question was in the negative. Dr. Matsumura’s presentation focused on how recent international developments, primarily the struggle between China and the United States, created a need for Japan to lessen its dependence and reliability on other nations. According to Dr. Matsumura, the Comprehensive Security Policy (CSP) necessitated Japan’s focus on non-military security in sectors like food and energy. The ESPL passed in 2022 and 2023’s Defense Industrial Base Enhancement Law (DIBEL), despite enhancements in military preparedness, the government remains focused on key economic security issues outlined in previous policies. In his assessment, competition between private industry and government demands differ between two competing economic security strategies important for Japan in the region: strategic autonomy and strategic indispensability. Divided between the myopic parochial perspective and what is best for the national interest, Dr. Matsumura used the case of the TSMC chip factory in Kumamoto, Japan to exemplify what he regards as “policy malpractice.” Japan used to be an industry leader with control of 60-70% of chip production has dwindled to 10% today. Outsourcing of production, domestic market decline, and heavy environmental costs, all weigh on the chip manufacturing plants’ present costs at a national and international perspective. The professor summarized the situation with a single sentence: the chip industry as a whole is profitable; but it is dirty. The Q&A portion after the talk was lively with back-and-forth discussion about the actions and inactions of the Japanese government domestically and overseas, covering issues from the struggles of pacifism while enhanced economic security and its reception domestically, to raising matters of economic security toward countries in Africa as means to compete with China. Professor Matsumura stressed Japan’s focus on mid- and long-term deals over short-term gains, which was China’s direction towards Africa and other nations internationally. The problem he stressed Japan and other nations faced was a lack of economic security plans beyond plan A. The talk raised issues of Japan’s growing involvement in the greater Asia-Pacific during a period of growing tensions. It presented a reality of Japan’s presence in the region, and its relationship with Taiwan, the U.S., and China at a critical moment. It was an excellent opportunity for IDAS to have Dr. Matsumura presenting on a topic of regional importance covering the relationship with Taiwan to the larger international struggle over the international order of politics in the near future.

【Article by IDAS】 National Chengchi University’s (NCCU) International Doctoral Program on Asia-Pacific Studies (IDAS) lecture series presented Strategic Materials, Technology and Their Latest Issues, held on 9 April 2024. Dr. Lee Eun-Ho, the Representative of the Korean Mission in Taipei, presented a historical overview of the contribution of key technologies to the destiny of empires of the past, with a view toward its relevance to strategic national resources in the current geopolitical climate of East Asia. Representative Lee’s presentation focused on science as a means of building strategic sources of power either through economic means or direct military capacity. Furthermore, science presents the ability to overcome imposed resource scarcity through embargoes and sanctions. This means developing a population with the skill set and knowledge to synthesize alternative resources to meet industrial needs for the production of critical materials, such as chemicals and components for the production of semiconductors and artificial intelligence. The historical survey presents the indispensable and inseparable relationship between scientific advancement and military superiority. As Representative Lee related these issues to the current challenges facing his own country, South Korea, and Taiwan, he pointed to the needed return for comprehensive industrial policy in order to safeguard critical technology and secure scarce materials for industries as a national imperative. At the conclusion of his talk, Representative Lee directed attention to the security of supply chains and the need for global cooperation, as shortages in produce and goods have long, unforeseeable consequences to national and international stability. In the open forum, Representative Lee responded to questions from students, faculty, and guests with a strong emphasis on the effectiveness of sanctions and blacklisting of specific nations. He responded by saying that banning as a strategy is not a long-term solution, as it inspires target countries to innovate in creating alternative materials or finding new suppliers. Shortages in certain strategic resources cause the development of new industries. He also noted that in the current global environment, for nations such as South Korea and Taiwan to remain competitive, collaboration with other countries is a necessity – as maintaining a technological edge in the future is uncertain. Representative Lee’s presentation didn’t only look back at history to understand the importance of resources and technology from a broader perspective, it also raised important issues for consideration as both Taiwan and the wider region face an increasing prospect of conflict. It was a great opportunity for IDAS to have the Korean Representative to Taipei presenting on a topic of growing relevance to the region and gain insight as to how national power and science are interlinked with international politics.

【Article by IDAS】 National Chengchi University’s (NCCU) International Doctoral Program on Asia-Pacific Studies (IDAS) lecture series presented Reflections from Moscow and Lessons from Ukraine, held on 13 March 2024. A discussion presented by Rear Admiral (rtd) Philip W. Yu of the United States Navy, former defense attaché to Russia and served as division chief for Northeast Asia Policy at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. RAdm. Yu’s talk drew significant parallels between Russia’s action prior to its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 with the ongoing acts of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) toward Taiwan, currently. In his view, many of Russia’s playbook in the building up to its invasion are observable in the development of the PRC’s own actions around Taiwan. As both Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, respectively, have taken steps for the centralization of the decision-making process and isolation of their economies, coinciding with building up their foreign reserves. Another indicator would be the decimation of civil society and the increasing oversight of the government on freedom of the press, with the suppression of dissidents through legal coercion. Furthermore, the amassing of Russian troops and ammunition near the Ukrainian border under the pretense of military exercises or law enforcement activities was a clear harbinger of what was to come. RAdm. Yu connected these similarities with the PRC’s effort to change the situation around Kinmen Island following incidents in early March 2024. These are only the most recent efforts to change the status quo. At the end of his discussion, RAdm. Yu focused on mitigating countermeasures, emphasizing the effective use of intelligence gathering and sharing. He pointed to the US efforts prior to the invitations of Ukraine in sharing classified intelligence with the world to expose Russian intention and its false flag actions. He noted that open-source intelligence is the best way of exposing scrupulous actions. In the open forum, a multitude of topics were discussed, with the question of economic interdependence as a sufficient deterrence for conflict. RAdm. Yu’s response pointed to the fact that before the invasion many U.S. companies were in Russia, with Russia integrated into the global economy. But the decision to go to war with Ukraine was not based on economics. Another repeated point of inquiry was the concept of day-to-day resilience, RAdm. Yu advised spending the money now to enhance deterrence capabilities. This calls for decentralization of energy storage and supply to retain resilience. He emphasized that in the early stages of a conflict, it is important to have the ability to communicate to the people that the government is still in control. Furthermore, as most daily functions are civilian functions, private industry has to step up. He added that part of this resilience strategy is the need for a diplomatic effort before the start of hostilities to establish accords with other states to assist Taiwan. In conclusion, he pointed to the fact that the act of negotiation is best done on an even playing field. It would serve Taiwan to maintain its capabilities to resist coercion. It was our honor to have Rear Admiral (rtd) Philip W. Yu for this discussion on the lessons that could be learned from the Russian-Ukrainian war and their applicability to Taiwan’s own situation. The talk attracted a diverse audience of both local and international scholars and students, which sparked participation in the discussion session. It was also a great chance for our students to further understand the overlapping circumstances of Taiwan and Ukraine from first-hand resources. IDAS continues to arrange lectures focusing on issues integral to the Asia-Pacific region.

【Article by IDAS】 The Relations between the Philippines and China in recent years have been dominated by territorial disputes and the militarization of features in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea. Recent incidents have seen collisions between the Chinese Coast Guard and Philippine resupply missions. These series of maritime confrontations have strained bilateral relations, therefore, to understand the circumstances of Philippine-China relations, IDAS Assistant Professor Yuan Li-Chung invited Mr. Lucio Blanco Pitlo lll, a MOFA Taiwan Fellow and visiting scholar of the Department of Diplomacy, to provide an assessment of recent and escalating developments in Philippine-China relations that reflect growing tensions in the region on November 15, 2023. This is in line with the curriculum of the Seminar on Asia-Pacific Regional Security Studies under the International Doctoral Program in Asia-Pacific (IDAS) of the College of Social Sciences (CSS) of the National Chengchi University (NCCU). Pitlo presents a detailed observation of the Philippine position and the considerations informing the country’s foreign policy and strategic action. Pitlo first outlines the Philippines’ interest, expanding on what is at stake in the country’s efforts to counter Chinese action. National security interests of the Philippines mainly focus on issues of national sovereignty and territorial integrity including the Kalayaan Group of Islands, part of the Spratly archipelago covered within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The wider security agenda not only covers defense and security, but includes energy, trade, border security, food security, and much more. While Philippine-China relations are underpinned by strong bilateral trade and development partnerships. Security ties have experienced strain, necessitating the need for repairs in the relationship to effectively handle disputes. Pitlo surmises that there was optimism of continued stability in the relationship early on in the Marcos Jr. presidency, stemming from former President Duterte’s daughter being the vice president. However, events later on would overtake this early optimism, arresting the positive momentum are multiple maritime incidents which soured the relationship, and saw the expansion and revitalization of US-Philippine relations. These coincided with regional developments that saw a hardening of military postures indicated by the increase of defense spending and the creation of new security architecture in the region. The ongoing maritime dispute has negatively affected broader relations and has seen the Philippines adopt a strategy of “aggressive transparency”, which shed light on the gray zone tactics of China. International diplomatic support for the Philippines has followed, but Pitlo expressed concern if this will actually alter Chinese behavior. Or, it could result in China doubling its efforts to make an example of the Philippines to deter other Southeast Asian claimant states. Going forward, Pitlo discusses the primary concerns for the Philippines which include no further occupation and military construction of the unoccupied features in the SCS/WPS. This position has been echoed by the other littoral states. Furthermore, the Philippines’ goal is for non-interference in its EEZ including the exploration of oil and gas. But most importantly, no disruption of routine resupply missions of the Philippines in its outpost in the SCS/WPS. Pitlo concludes with a sober assessment of possible areas of cooperation to rebuild Philippine-China relations—primarily acts to depoliticize marine environment and conservation with a coordinated annual fishing ban to replenish diminishing fishing stocks. There are already existing frameworks such as the High Seas Treaty of 2023 which could foster cooperation in the sustainable use of living marine resources, including in the high seas pocket in the middle of SCS with other areas of collaboration including ocean waves and offshore wind energy, mariculture, and deep-sea mining. In the open forum, students presented questions on regional mechanisms to safeguard peace, such as the ASEAN position on the territorial dispute. According to Pitlo, there have been efforts to resolve the issue multi-laterally, however, Beijing was unwilling to talk until it could negotiate from a position of strength. This was achieved with the militarization of island features by China. As a counterweight, Pitlo suggested that the Southeast Asian states should have a cohesive stance before approaching Beijing. This was followed by a question about Philippine-Taiwan relations. Pitlo notes that relations between Taipei and Manila are underpinned by the existing agreement on maritime law enforcement 2015, which prevents the use of force, humanitarian concern, and jurisdictional delimitation. This has resulted in no unfortunate events since 2012.

【Article by IDAS】 The International Doctoral Program on Asia-Pacific Studies (IDAS) brown bag series presented a roundtable discussion “What Prompted Japan to take more proactive security policies? The Role of Domestic Institutions” on February 21st, 2024. Lectures by Dr. Satoshi Machidori of Kyoto University and Dr. Harukata Takenaka of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, respectively, explored different facets of Japan’s domestic politics affecting the course of Japanese foreign policy. Dr. Machidori’s presentation focused on how domestic political reforms influence changes in foreign policy. Japan’s shift towards a more active international participation is attributed to the centralization of power, brought on by electoral and administrative reforms that have strengthened the office of the Prime Minister as a key policy maker. These changes have been made possible by a growing public interest in foreign policy and national security concerns, coinciding with a reduction in absolute anti-war sentiment. Nonetheless, recent political reforms have also devolved more power to local governments strengthening their position as veto points in policy-making. Application of the argument to a specific policy, Dr. Takenaka’s presentation sought to answer how Japan was able to launch the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP) strategy. He argued reforms in political institutions, such as the power of the Prime Minister within his own party and the establishment of new institutions within the executive branch altered the policy-making process. Changes in the legal powers of the PM to influence appointments of individual ministries and to design concrete policies gave the executive branch political clout to marshal support for implementing FOIP as a strategic policy. The implication for Japan is formulating a more proactive external and security policy. In the open forum, Dr. Yves Tiberghien posed questions on the paradoxical situation of public support for security issues but seeming fiscal conservatism. The response from Dr. Machidori and Dr. Takenaka focused on the possibility of attitudinal modification from the general public, as hesitations could be overcome over time and dependent on circumstance. Other significant interest was expressed in the role of factionalization within the ruling party and sensitivity to public dissatisfaction. In response, both speakers argued that foreign policy functions as a baseline for judging political parties in Japan, where the issue’s significance only becomes salient when a mistake has been committed. In summation, public interest in the salience of foreign policy is circumstantial. It was truly our honor to have Dr. Satoshi Machidori and Dr. Harukata Takenaka for this roundtable discussion which attracted a diverse audience of both local and international scholars and students, with active participation in the discussion session. It was also a great chance for our students to further explore the Japanese governmental, political, and diplomatic policies, and understand the domestic opinions from first-hand resources. The IDAS office will endeavour to arrange more series focusing on issues integral to the Asia-Pacific region.

【Article by IDAS】 The International Doctoral Program in Asia-Pacific Studies (IDAS) invited Professor Thomas Gold, Professor of Sociology Emeritus, University of California at Berkeley, to deliver a speech on “Remaking Taiwan During Democratization: Society and State” on January 5th, 2024. It is part of the 30th anniversary celebration of the College of Social Sciences (CSS), the CSS Refocusing Asia lecture series. Professor Gold’s research focuses on many aspects of the societies of East Asia, primarily mainland China and Taiwan. Through this lecture, Professor Gold presents his current research interest in looking at society-led change in the state during Taiwan’s march toward democracy. Placing his current research in conversation with his earlier works that looked at development in Taiwan in the late 1970s and 1980s with a developmental state perspective, Professor Gold argued that the dynamics of the relationship between state and society have reversed since democratization, and the rise of society requires a new way of looking at the process of democratization. That is, we should see democratization as not limited to the political field but as part of transformations within and across many fields. How did the society in Taiwan become empowered in the face of overwhelming state power in all fields? Based on Pierre Bourdieu’s and Neil Fligstein’s works, Prof. Gold applied field theory to study political change. To understand the effect of society on Taiwan’s political institutions and the transition of power from a party-state under the Kuomintang, Professor Gold presented cases to illustrate the fragmentation of state power and the formation of social institutions. The dispersal of power into wider society was assisted by the trouble in maintaining the myth of retaking China as time and political realities progressed. Demographics would also influence this change as the youth grew up with different historical and social perceptions. Professor Gold concluded that the party-state could not solve mounting problems opening the political space for social initiative. He stated that things that are taken for granted are ever-changing, as agency is dispersed. Professor Gold provided us with a comprehensive review of what happened in Taiwan over the past decades. In the open forum, significant interest was expressed in applying Professor Gold’s theory to the upcoming January 2024 Taiwan presidential election, and the implication of his research on the political parties in today’s Taiwan. Prof. Gold expressed his view that there is significant difficulty in transferring influence from one arena to another and that observers should pay close attention to changes in the rules of the game, and the restructuring of benefits.

【Article by IDAS】 On 7 October 2023, Hamas launched an unprecedented simultaneous assault on southern Israel marking the country’s deadliest day since its founding in 1948. Israel immediately declared war on Hamas and began retaliatory attacks into the Gaza Strip with the prospect of a ground assault as the Israel Defense Force issued an evacuation order for civilians in northern Gaza. The war has reignited historical animosity in the Middle East, as the conflict threatens to involve other regional powers sparking concerns of a much wider conflict.   The Seminar on Asia-Pacific Regional Security Studies under the International Doctoral Program in Asia-Pacific (IDAS) of the College of Social Sciences (CSS) of the National Chengchi University (NCCU) organized a lecture on 18 October 2023 by former Ambassador Chang Liang-Jen, former Vice-Minister of Defense and Representative to Israel and Indonesia, to address the growing concerns and understand the evolving conflict currently happening in Israel and Gaza.   The event’s organizer, Admiral Lee Hsi-Min (ret.), Former Chief of General Staff and Assistant Professor Yuan Li-Chung, Ph.D. sought to introduce the issue and outline the underlying source of antagonism surrounding the Palestinian-Israel dispute. Amb. Chang’s service in Israel and in the Ministry of National Defense has accorded him comprehensive knowledge on the disparate interests straining efforts to control the situation. Amb. Chang shared his insights on the escalating conflict, providing historical background to competing interests and perspectives informing how the conflict is evolving. During the lecture, Amb. Chang emphasized historical antecedents informing current animosity surrounding Palestinian-Israeli relations, focusing on the territorial, ethnic, religious, and regional context of the conflict. The variables informing Hamas’ actions were discussed, such as the domestic context of the, then, political instability in Israel prior to the attack. The surrounding international development that could have informed the calculations of Hamas. He contextualized the situation with his insight on the roles of the superpowers and regional powers in the growing conflict, and the subsequent international reaction. With growing international tension, the issue has caused further division in the international community, the importance of Amb. Chang’s discernment on the internal politics of Israel and Palestine elucidate the wider ramification of the dispute on global stability. The ambassador remarked that “it is important that the minor conflict between Hamas and Israel will not expand to a regional conflict”. In response to both the Hamas attack and resulting Israeli military actions, efforts at building regional peace have been halted with the normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia as a prime example. The discussion during the open forum touched on a multitude of issues, one of which concerned Israel’s possible entrenchment in the Gaza Strip with the planned ground assault. To which, Amb. Chang responded that the best course of action would be finding ways to de-escalate the situation, with him lamenting that, “if you want to rule [those people] you must dig your own tomb.” Amb. Chang also shared his views on the US strategic objective regarding Israel in consideration of the wider geopolitical realities of the Middle East. Accordingly, he surmised that the US strategy centers on confining the conflict between Israel and Hamas. This includes blocking other extra-regional actors, such as China from having a greater say in the region. Amb. Chang pinpointed that the deployment of US carrier strike groups is not only a show of support for Israel but also as a means of deterrence for other parties to get involved in the conflict. 

【Article by IDAS】 On January 10th, 2023, National Chengchi University, Keio University, and Yonsei University co- organized the conference for the first time titled “Regional Development in East Asia: Security, Economy, and Technology”. The Inaugural Joint Conference opened with the Dean of Social Sciences, professor Wan-Ying Yang, who addressed the audience with her Welcome Remarks. Keynote Speaker Professor Yoshihide Soeya, Professor of political science and international relations at the Faculty of Law at Keio University, set the conference’s tone with his keynote address, stating “we could identify ourselves as something about squeezing the middle between the U.S. and China”. He shared his insights into different senses of the distance between the U.S. and China, and of the three countries (Taiwan, Japan, South Korea) that enable them to set a middle tool to tighten the complicated relationship between the U.S. and China. The event was divided into four panels. During the first hour, Professor Chung-min Tsai, Professor at the Department of Political Science and Vice Dean of the College of Social Sciences at National Chengchi University; Professor Junya Nishino, Professor of Political Science, and Faculty of Law at Keio University; and Professor Wooyeal Paik, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Yonsei University, all shared perspectives from their respective countries (Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea) on political and security aspects of cooperation in  the East Asia region and the current global strategic landscape. Professor Chung-min Tsai assessed the strategic trilateral relations of the U.S., China, and Taiwan,  and obstacles the three countries might face; in particular, the possibility of a coming war between the U.S. and China over Taiwan. Professor Junya Nishino discussed trilateral security cooperation among Japan, the U.S., and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the age of US-China rivalry, and challenges likely present in strengthening relations between Japan and the ROK. Professor Wooyeal Paik explained the global strategic landscape in Indo-Pacific and Euro- Atlantic regions, especially the critical factors promoting the cooperation of ROK and NATO. He also spoke on the necessary development of the coalition dimension to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue. Professor David Arase, a Visiting scholar from the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, SAIS, Johns Hopkins University, moderated this panel. In the second session – Political Economy and Governance, Professor Ken Tsutsumibayashi, Dean of Faculty of Law at Keio University; Professor Heon- Joo Jung, Professor of Department of Public Administration at Yonsei University; and Professor Yi- Chun Chien, Assistant Professor of Political Science at National Chengchi University, all discussed development trends, cooperation, and the national policy system that have affected regional socio- economic growth and stability. Professor Ken Tsutsumibayashi presented the AI technological breakthrough and its two-face impacts on human life and democratic legitimacy. At the same time, Professor Heon Joo Jung covered competition and cooperation in applying technology in East Asian countries’ military fields. Professor Yi-Chun Chien compared migrant care worker policy approaches in Taiwan and South Korea that have contributed significantly to solving the challenges of labor shortages in the social welfare sector. Professor Yeonho Lee, Dean of Social Sciences at Yonsei University moderated this panel. In the third session – Domestic Politics in Taiwan, Professor Philip Hsiaopong Liu, Professor of the Graduate Institute of Development Studies at National Chengchi University; and Professor Lev Nachman, Assistant Professor of the International Doctoral Programme in Asia-Pacific Studies at National Chengchi University, both delved into changes of Taiwan’s response to issues with foreign elements. Professor Philip Hsiaopong Liu shared his views on Taiwan’s perspectives of African Americans from 1949 to 1979 and its increasing attention to African American affairs since the 1970s. Finally, professor Lev Nachman identified important reasons that affected Taiwanese people’s reverence towards Mr. Abe’s death. Professor Tsutsumibayashi from Keio University moderated this panel. For the fourth and final “Comparative Politics and Political Communication” session, Professor Yuko Kasuya, Professor of Political Science from the Department of Political Science, and Faculty of Law at Keio University; and Professor Ja-Rim Kim, Professor from the Department of Communication at Yonsei University, both examined communication factors and challenges likely to be present in the political issues of their respective countries. Professor Yuko Kasuya discussed how disinformation impacted the result of the 2022 Philippines presidential election. Finally, to close this panel, Professor Ja- Rim Kim investigated the effectiveness of the war-framing strategy and its implications on health related outcomes in communication with highly suspicious individuals. Professor Bennis So from National Chengchi University moderated this panel.