TAIWAN AND SECURITY IN EASTERN ASIA

On Monday October 22, 2007 the Civic Institute held an International conference on the topic of “Taiwan and Security in Eastern Asia“ which took place in the refectory of the Emmaus cloister. Mr. Roman Joch, the director of the Civic Institute chaired the conference. The opening speech was delivered by the vice chairman of the Senate of CR, Mr Petr Pithart who had shortly before visited Taiwan and his experience enabled him to present a report on the state of the country’s democracy. Professor Olga Lomová of the FFUK gave a lecture on how the national traditions in China were being reconsidered within the prospect of Chinese and Taiwan relations. The history of Taiwan and its transition towards democracy was discussed by professor Wen-yen Chen. Mr Stephen Yates presented the American point of view of the rise of China and its growing military threat and professor June Teufel Dreyer talked about the strategic importance of Taiwan. Professor Jerome Keating gave the analyses of the expected political development in Taiwan in 2008. The last contribution was made by Dr Gerrit van der Wees from the Netherlands who talked about the need of standard relations with Taiwan and its membership in international organizations.