Taiwan Diplomat Visits PBA, Tells Students Why His Country Matters

Date: February 22, 2012
Source: Palm Beach Atlantic University

Director General Ray Mou, a Taiwan diplomat stationed at the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Miami, believes his country matters to the global community, especially the U.S.

Mou presented, “Why Taiwan Matters in the Global Village” at the Gregory School of Pharmacy’s monthly “Lunch and Learn” series February 15 at the invitation of Palm Beach Atlantic University professor Dr. Charles Lee. In July 2010, spearheaded by Lee, a team of 14 pharmacy students and three faculty members traveled to Taiwan as part of an agreement of scholarly exchange.

Mou holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Tunghai University in Taiwan, a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and has completed senior executive training programs at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and Cambridge University. He has been a career diplomat since 1985.

Mou explained what makes Taiwan matter is its geopolitics – the island is located in the southwest Pacific off the coast of China, which is ideal proximity to prime maritime channels, and it is an economically stable and flexible democratic country with a population of more than 20 million.

“We don’t rely on multi-national huge companies like in Korea, which gives us flexibility,” Mou said. “When the global market crisis came, we were able to change resources to adjust to the market. We are successful through man power – human resources. We have highly qualified, skilled laborers, thinkers and doers.”

The predominant industries in Taiwan include electronics and communication-information technology. Mou listed six emerging technologies: biotechnology, tourism, green energy, medical care, quality agriculture and cultural and creative industry. He said the total trade volume in Taiwan reached $526 billion in 2010.

Mou attributes the growth to U.S. foreign aid given from 1950 to 1965, which created a foundation. And he also believes Taiwan and the U.S. share the same values of democracy, human rights, a free market economy and free religion. Mou discussed this belief is echoed by Florida government as in June 2011, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida’s 18th district and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing before the house committee and presented her case, “Why Taiwan Matters.”

Photo 1: From left to right: Dr. Charles Lee; PBA Interim President William M.B. Fleming Jr.; Director General Ray Mou; PBA Provost Dr. Joe Kloba. Mou presented the talk "Why Taiwan Matters in the Global Village."

Photo 2: Director General Ray Mou (left) with Dr. Charles Lee of PBA's Gregory School of Pharmacy following the "Lunch and Learn."

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• Photo 2