Chinese pressure on Taiwan during these unprecedented pandemic times has been ratcheting up, not down. This is leading to more cross-Strait tension than ever, raising concerns about Taiwan’s ability to defend itself. Against the unsettled backdrop of COVID-19, panelists will discuss cross-Strait military balance, the impact of deteriorating US-China relations, the October 2020 arms sales to Taiwan, and the changing political attitudes and strategy in Taiwan toward China. And what are some preliminary speculations on the impact of US election results on these issues?

The Sigur Center for Asian Studies invites you to join this Taiwan Roundtable webinar with Elbridge Colby, co-founder of The Marathon Initiative and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development, and Shelley Rigger, Brown Professor of Political Science at Davidson College.

Colby will comment on “The Cross-Strait Military Situation: Challenges and Considerations for US Policy for the Next Four Years,” while Rigger will speak on “How Taiwan’s Changing Domestic Scene is Shaping Cross-Strait Relations.” The discussion will be moderated by Deepa Ollapally, Associate Director of the Sigur Center, and the event will feature an extensive period for audience Q&A.