On 20 April, the TRO held a lunchtime discussion entitled ‘Contextualising East Asia in 2018: Japan, Korea, Taiwan and cross-Strait relations’. Guest speakers included Dr Barak Kushner, reader in Japanese history at Cambridge University, and Mr Dan Damon, senior reporter and presenter for BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4. The Ambassador of Guatemala H.E. Mr Acisclo Valladares Molina, as well as other representatives from the diplomatic corps in London, including the US, South Korean and Japanese embassies were in attendance along with former government officials, academics and researchers.
The discussion covered a range of topics regarding historical and political developments in the East Asian region, aiming to give participants a deeper understanding of the complex set of issues faced by East Asian nations today. Dr Kushner called for a new paradigm in the field of Taiwan Studies, raising the historical process of Taiwan’s de-colonisation and de-imperialisation as a potential perspective. Mr Damon focused on the upcoming talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, remarking that Taiwan could offer valuable lessons during this period of transition in North and South Korean relations. Representative Lin concluded by expressing hope that cross-Strait dialogue could be conducted without preconditions, drawing lessons from the upcoming talks between North and South Korea.
