The New Southbound Policy (Chinese: 新南向政策; pinyin: Xīn Nán Xiàng Zhèngcè) is an initiative of the Taiwanese government under President Tsai Ing-wen that aims to enhance cooperation and exchange between Taiwan and 18 countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia and Australasia.[1][2][3]
James C. F. Huang was appointed the first director of the New Southbound Policy Office.[4]
History
editDuring the Cold War, Taiwan was aligned with a number of countries in the Southeast Asia region in an anti-communist alliance during the Vietnam War.
The original Southbound Policy was created to make Taiwan less dependent on mainland China and to improve Taiwan's cooperation with other countries.[5] The policy was officially launched on 5 September 2016.[1]
As of 2024, the policy had not significantly reduced Taiwan's economic dependence on mainland China.[6]: 14
Cooperation countries
editThe 18 countries targeted by the New Southbound Policy are:[7]
Thailand
Indonesia
Philippines
Malaysia
Singapore
Brunei
Vietnam
Myanmar
Cambodia
Laos
India
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Bhutan
Australia
New Zealand
Connection to Free and Open Indo Pacific (FOIP) strategy
editIn order to support the aims of the New Southbound Policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs officially established the Indo-Pacific Affairs Section. One focus of the Indo-Pacific section is to forge more cooperative ties with the United States, Australia, and Japan,[8] all of whom have share similar visions for a "free and open Indo-Pacific."[9]
Profiles of cooperating countries
edit| Country | 2018 ease of doing business index ranking (out of 190 countries) | Currency | Time zone | Taiwanese business association | Visa entry program to Taiwan[10][11] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | 26 | Baht (฿) | ICT (UTC+07:00) | http://ttba.or.th/ | 14 days visa-free entry from 1 Aug 2018 to 31 July 2019 |
| Indonesia | 72 | Rupiah (Rp) | Various (UTC+07:00 to UTC+09:00) | Online visa application | |
| Philippines | 113 | Peso (₱) | PST (UTC+08:00) | 14 days visa-free entry from 1 Aug 2018 to 31 July 2019 | |
| Malaysia | 24 | Ringgit (RM) | MST (UTC+08:00) | http://www.tiam.com.my/ | 30 days visa-free entry |
| Singapore | 2 | Singapore dollar | SST (UTC+08:00) | 30 days visa-free entry | |
| Brunei | 56 | Brunei dollar | BNT (UTC+08:00) | 14 days visa-free entry from 1 Aug 2018 to 31 July 2019 | |
| Vietnam | 68 | Đồng (₫) | (UTC+07:00) | http://ctcvn.vn/ | Online visa application |
| Myanmar | 171 | Kyat (K), baht (฿) | MMT (UTC+06:30) | Online visa application | |
| Cambodia | 135 | Riel, dollar ($), baht (฿) | KRAT/ICT (UTC+07:00) | Online visa application | |
| Laos | 141 | Kip (₭), baht (฿) | ICT (UTC+07:00) | Online visa application | |
| India | 100 | Indian rupee (₹) | IST (UTC+05:30) | http://www.taiwan-india.org.tw/zh/home.php | Online visa application |
| Pakistan | 122 | Pakistani rupee | PST (UTC+05:00) | General visa | |
| Nepal | 105 | Nepalese rupee | NST (UTC+05:45) | Visa application from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India | |
| Bangladesh | 177 | Taka (৳) | BST (UTC+06:00) | General visa | |
| Sri Lanka | 111 | Sri Lankan rupee | SLST (UTC+05:30) | Visa application from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center | |
| Bhutan | 75 | Ngultrum (BTN) and Indian rupee (INR) | BTT (UTC+06:00) | Visa application from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center | |
| Australia | 14 | Australian dollar | Various (UTC+08:00 to UTC+10:30): minor variations from the three basic time zones also exist | 90 days visa-free entry until 31 December 2018 | |
| New Zealand | 1 | New Zealand dollar | NZST (UTC+12:00): the Chatham Islands have a separate time zone 45 minutes ahead of the rest of New Zealand | https://tba.org.nz/ | 90 days visa-free entry |
Cooperation aspects
editThe New Southbound Policy is for Taiwan to cooperate with 18 countries in the following aspects:[12]
- Trade
- Technology
- Agriculture
- Medicine
- Education
- Tourism
Implementation measures
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2016) |
Promote economic collaboration
edit- Trade offices will be set up by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in India, Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand to assist the local integration of Taiwanese companies[1]
- Interested Taiwanese businesses will be able to access market and investment information of all countries covered under the New Southbound Policy via newly established information services[1]
Conduct talent exchange
edit- The Taiwan Education Center, Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan and universities in Taiwan help execute higher education talents exchange programs, including teaching Taiwanese Mandarin in cooperated countries locally and accept students from cooperated countries to apply for scholarships to study in Taiwan.[13][14]
| Universities in Taiwan | Responsible Countries |
|---|---|
| National Sun Yat-sen University | Philippines[15] |
| National Taiwan University | Malaysia[16] |
| Asia University (Taiwan) | Indonesia[17] |
| Chung Hua University Taiwan | Philippines (Adamson University)[18] |
Share resources
edit- Expanding scholarships to students from ASEAN countries up to 60,000 students by 2019.[19]
Visas for the cooperation countries
edit- In order to improve tourism, especially from Southeast Asian countries, Taiwan has expanded visa-free entry for citizens of the Philippines, Thailand, Russia, and Brunei up until 2021.[20]
Budget
editThe operational budget for the policy implementation is taken from the Presidential Office budget.[21]
Slogans
editThe slogan "Taiwan helps Asia, and Asia helps Taiwan” has been promoted by President Tsai.[22]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Tai, Ya-chen; Low, Y.F. (5 September 2016). "Cabinet launches plan to promote 'New Southbound Policy'". Focus Taiwan. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ "'New Southbound Policy' promotion plan launched". Ministry of the Interior Republic of China (Taiwan). 5 September 2016. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ Sung, Wen-lung (1 November 2016). "Two-pronged 'southbound' strategy". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ "Warning signals for the 'New Southbound Policy': The China Post". The Straits Times. 12 September 2016. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ Lu, Yi-hsuan; Chung, Jake (1 November 2016). "Task force to help promote the 'new southbound policy'". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ Zhao, Suisheng (2024). "Is Beijing's Long Game on Taiwan about to End? Peaceful Unification, Brinksmanship, and Military Takeover". In Zhao, Suisheng (ed.). The Taiwan Question in Xi Jinping's Era: Beijing's Evolving Taiwan Policy and Taiwan's Internal and External Dynamics. London and New York: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003521709. ISBN 9781032861661.
- ^ "New Southbound Policy Portal". Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "Remarks by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the occasion of accepting Hudson Institute's 2013 Herman Kahn Award". Cabinet Public Relations Office, Cabinet Secretariat of Japan. 25 September 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
It is my belief that Japan and the U.S. together should lead the Indo-Pacific Century to make it one that cherishes freedom, democracy, human rights, and rules-based order, with the TPP as its backbone.
- ^ "Foreign ministry opens Indo-Pacific Affairs Section". RTI (Radio Taiwan International). 11 May 2018. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
- ^ "我與新南向18國相互簽證待遇" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 領事事務局. 1 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ "MOFA announces one-year extension of 14-day visa-free entry program for Brunei, Philippine, and Thai nationals - New Southbound Policy Portal". The Ministry of Foreign Affair. 12 July 2018. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ Tan-sun Chen (1 June 2018). "The New Southbound Policy and Taiwan's Role in Facilitating Grassroots Connections in the Indo-Pacific Region". The Prospect Foundation. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ "﹝重要資訊﹞107年臺灣教育中心設立及聯繫資訊一覽表" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 25 January 2018. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "新南向國家境外生提供留學臺灣心得報告，獲獎名單 AWARD NOTIFICATION" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 15 June 2018. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "Taiwan Education Center in Philippine". Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "Taiwan Education Center, Malaysia" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "亞大推新南向 獲教部補助居冠" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 聯合新聞網. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "一起新南向！中華大學與亞當森大學簽屬雙聯學位合作" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 中央通訊社. 18 June 2018. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "New Southbound Policy centers on people: Tsai". Taiwan Today. 23 September 2016. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ "Taiwan to extend visa-free entry for 4 countries next month". The Mainichi. 24 July 2020. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ Liu, Claudia; Chang, S.C. (15 June 2016). "New Southbound Policy Office to operate on Presidential Office budget". Focus Taiwan. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ "President Tsai". english.president.gov.tw. Office of the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2021.