Taiwan–Myanmar Relations

Kristina Kironska

*Please be aware that this session follows British Summer Time (BST) .

Abstract

This lecture will introduce Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy with a case study of Taiwan–Myanmar relations from a perspective of political relations, economic cooperation, and Taiwan’s (un)recognisability in Myanmar—i.e. Taiwan’s soft power in Myanmar. It will provide an insight into the relationship between Taiwan and Myanmar after Myanmar’s state-led political transformation from military rule and economic liberalisation since approximately 2010 and explain the main aspects and determinants of the relationship between two countries that share a neighbouring potential hegemon which they both wish(ed) to balance against. Myanmar was not among the six target countries of the New Southbound Policy. Nonetheless, Taiwanese businesspeople have been exploring market opportunities in the country when it was opening up. The media promoted the country as one of the last remaining lucrative virgin economic markets – Myanmar has rich resources, including oil and gas, and an abundance of young labour. The situation has, however, drastically changed after the military coup in 2021.

Speaker Bio

Kristina Kironska is a socially engaged interdisciplinary academic with experience in Myanmar Studies, Taiwan Affairs, CEE-China Relations, human rights, election observation, and advocacy. She worked for Amnesty International, lectured at the University of Taipei and organized monthly human rights talks in Taipei. Currently she is conducting research within the Sinophone Borderlands project administered by the Palacky University Olomouc (Czechia). She is also the Advocacy Director at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies, and a Board Member of Amnesty International Slovakia. She can be reached at kironska@ceias.eu

Organiser: Centre of Taiwan Studies

Contact email: hl55@soas.ac.uk