On Tuesday, December 9, the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club will host a panel discussion on Europe–Taiwan relations amid rising geopolitical uncertainty. The event, titled “Europe and Taiwan: Building Friendly Relations Amidst Global Disruptions,” will examine how democratic partners can strengthen cooperation in an era shaped by strategic rivalry, war, and global instability.
Registration is required. Please register via: https://forms.gle/281PXNWnVqsAithz5
From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to growing pressure from authoritarian states, Europe’s foreign policy environment is undergoing rapid change. What role can Taiwan play as European governments rethink their engagement in the Indo-Pacific? How is public opinion evolving in Europe, and how do domestic political shifts—such as elections in the Baltics, Central Europe, and other EU countries—affect policymaking?
To start off the discussion, Matej Šimalčík, Executive Director of the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS), will present his institute’s newest research evaluating European states’ relations with Taiwan.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Tuesday, December 9
Time: 7.00pm (doors open 6.30pm; light refreshments served)
Location: Taipei Tech GIS Convention Center, 2nd floor, Room 202
Language: English
Rules: TFCC members-only, on the record
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Matej Šimalčík is the Executive Director of the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS) and a leading researcher on China’s political and economic influence in Central Europe, corrosive capital, and EU legal mechanisms countering China-related risks. He is the founder of the China–Europe Academic Engagement Tracker and currently a Visiting Fellow at Taiwan’s INDSR under the Taiwan Fellowship.
Dana Dūda is the Head of the Asia Research Programme at the Latvian Institute of International Affairs (LIIA) and a researcher at the China Studies Centre of Riga Stradiņš University (RSU). She is completing her Ph.D. in Political Science at RSU and is a Visiting Scholar at the University of Helsinki (2025–2026).
Cheng Chia-Ching is the Executive Director of the European Union Centre in Taiwan (EUTW) and teaches at Tamkang University’s Department of Diplomacy and International Relations.
Moderator: David Demes, TFCC Vice Chair