The Taiwan Test: How to Keep Democracy Alive in Asia Dr Mark Harrison, Natasha Kassam and Dr Alan Dupont with Rowan Callick OBE FAIIA Wednesday 30 June 2021: 5pm for 5:30pm-7pm AEST Dyason House, 124 Jolimont Road, East Melbourne, VIC 3002 For those with an interest in the Indo-Pacific, the political uncertainty and tension surrounding Taiwan – officially the Republic of China – is cause for constant debate. While Cross-Strait relations and the competing narratives between the mainland China and Taiwan continue to burgeon, analysts and observers describe the issues surrounding Taiwan, chiefly its political independence and national security as becoming increasingly “hotter”. President Tsai-Ing Wen and her ruling Democratic Progressive Party have openly opposed the militarisation of the island’s surrounds and have called upon allies, like Australia and the US, to ensure Taiwan’s sovereignty remains intact. As a neighbouring democracy, what exactly is Australia’s Taiwan policy? How is it managed alongside chilling relations with China? As tensions escalate, what do experts see as the next flashpoint in the region? AIIA Victoria invites you to join a panel discussion with Dr Mark Harrison, Natasha Kassam, Dr Alan Dupont and moderated by Rowan Callick. Dr Mark Harrison is Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Tasmania in the Politics and International Relations Program in the School of Social Sciences. He is also an Adjunct Director of the Australian Centre on China in the World at the Australian National University. His academic work examines contemporary culture and politics in the Chinese-speaking world, using a distinctive theoretically informed style and with a particular interest in Taiwan. Natasha Kassam is Director of the Lowy Institute’s Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Program. She is a former Australian diplomat, researching Australia’s Indo-Pacific strategy, China’s domestic politics, Taiwan, and Australia-China relations. She is also a Fellow of the ANU National Security College’s Futures Council for 2020- 21. Natasha is a regular contributor to Australian and international media outlets including CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC and the New York Times. Dr Alan Dupont is founder and CEO of the Cognoscenti Group, a political and strategic risk consultancy, and one of Australia’s best known strategists, Asianists and thought leaders. He has received commendations for his work from the governments of Japan and East Timor and was recently named by the Australian Financial Review as one of Australia’s top two strategists. Alan was the inaugural holder of the Michael Hintze Chair in International Security at the University of Sydney and the first CEO of the United States Studies Centre. Rowan Callick OBE FAIIA is an Industry Fellow at Griffith University’s Asia Institute. He was Beijing-based China Correspondent of The Australian for two terms, following 20 years with The Australian Financial Review including as China Correspondent based in Hong Kong. He was also Asia-Pacific Editor for both newspapers. He has won a Graham Perkin Award for Australian Journalist of the Year and two Walkley Awards. RSVP: BOOK ONLINE or call (03) 9654 7271 AIIA Victoria gratefully acknowledges the Walter Mangold Trust Fund for its ongoing support of our young members In-person: Premium and Student members free; Regular members $20. Non-Members $30. Student Non-members $10 Webinar: Free for all AIIA members. Student Non-Members $5. Non-Members $10 Registered Office: Dyason House, 124 Jolimont Road, East Melbourne, VIC 3002 Telephone (03) 9654 7271 Email: [email protected] Website: www.internationalaffairs.org.au/victoria .