Taiwan’s Response to an Evolving Security Environment

The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China (Taiwan) released its second Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) in early March. The QDR presents a comprehensive examination of developments in Taiwan’s security environment and explains updates in its planning and strategy. As in the United States and other countries, the document is a reflection of the president’s strategic priorities, a serious planning exercise and a public relations tool which seeks to inform the public and win its support.

On April 29, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies (CNAPS) at Brookings and the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) will host a discussion on Taiwan’s recently released QDR. Vice Minister of National Defense for Policy Andrew N.D. Yang, will present the Ma Ying-jeou administration’s views of the Asia-Pacific security environment and Taiwan’s defense transformation. Chia-Sheng Chen, director of the defense ministry’s Defense Net Assessment Division, will explain the QDR in more detail. Phillip Saunders of the National Defense University will add his personal perspective on the security challenges Taiwan faces and the way it addresses them in the QDR.

After each session, panelists will take audience questions.  Event schedule is as follows:

Introduction

Richard Bush
Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies
The Brookings Institution

Session 1: Changes in the Asia-Pacific Security Environment and the ROC’s Defense Transformation

Moderator: Bonnie S. Glaser
Senior Adviser for Asia, Freeman Chair in China Studies
Center for Strategic and International Studies

Andrew N.D. Yang
Vice Minister of National Defense for Policy
Ministry of National Defense, Republic of China (Taiwan)

Session 2: The 2013 Quadrennial Defense Review of the ROC

Moderator: Richard Bush
Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies
The Brookings Institution

Chia-Sheng Chen
Director, Defense Net Assessment Division
Department of Integrated Assessment
Ministry of National Defense, Republic of China (Taiwan)

Phillip Saunders
Director, Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs
Institute for National Strategic Studies
National Defense University

To RSVP, please contact the Brookings Office of Communications at 202.797.6105
or visit the Brookings event registration page.