Come August, Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy (NSP) will mark its fifth year anniversary. Even though an earlier aim of the policy was to reduce reliance on a single market, the flagship policy launched by President Tsai Ing-Wen in 2016 has now evolved into a comprehensive outreach program that looks beyond just trade and investments. Indeed, it is poised to be Taiwan’s regional strategy in Indo-Pacific. Taiwan and the NSP have much to offer to Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific. In the post-pandemic era, the region needs more collective efforts and meaningful cooperation to achieve better recovery. All players, middle powers especially, need to work together and help forge that common vision. As the NSP heads into a new phase, it is with the hope that it can be provided a new jolt of energy to propel Taiwan’s role in the region further forward.
Full article (Taiwan's New Southbound Policy in Southeast Asia: Success, Challenges, and Prospects)
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