First workshop of the new Taiwan Studies Centre at Comenius University

During the winter semester 2024/25, Doc. Dr. Sascha Klotzbücher from the Department of East Asian Studies organized four Taiwan lectures, concluding with a workshop on January 7, 2025. the workshop "Challenging Legacies in Taiwan" was the first event of the Taiwan Studies Center, open to the university and the public, with international speakers from Taiwan, Germany, and Austria.

Welcoming the participants and the audience, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Dr. Vladimír Zvara, emphasized the importance of reflecting on Taiwan's experience and research on their democracy, especially during turbulent times in Europe and Slovakia.

The first panel was chaired by Gabriela Pleschová, MSc. PhD., from the Faculty of Philosophy, Comenius University.

Prof. Ann Heylen from National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei discussed how the Netherlands, the Dutch East India Company (VOC), and Japanese colonial occupation shaped Taiwan's heritage and identity. Prof. Yu-an Hsu of National Taipei University explained why the death penalty, a legacy of Taiwan's authoritarian past, remains upheld by some political actors in today's democracy, contrasting with Central European states that abolished it after 1989.

Dr. Astrid Lipinsky of the Vienna Taiwan Studies Center traced Taiwan's journey to gender equality in her presentation "From Traditional Obedience to Female Presidency." She highlighted key milestones, including the debate over "comfort women" abducted during WWII as sex slaves and the impact of the MeToo-movement in Taiwan.

The afternoon panel was chaired by Dr. Igor Hron, Faculty of Law, Comenius University.

Prof. Nai-Yi Sun, from the College of Law at National Taiwan University, gave a very timely analysis of the ongoing constitutional crisis in Taiwan, which began with the constitutional reforms pushed through by the partisan majority of the KMT (National Party) in parliament and led to widespread protests in Taipei the summer of last year.

Dr. Jens Damm of the European Center for Contemporary Taiwan Studies at the University of Tübingen has analysed the increasing efforts of European politicians and parliament members to engage with Taiwan in various institutionalized and other forums. The question is on what basis a unified European engagement with Taiwan can be built upon on. Increasing activities of the military and civic forces of China has brought Taiwan into the global political spotlight. Dr. Jens Damm of the European Center for Contemporary Taiwan Studies at the University of Tübingen discussed the increasing efforts of European politicians and parliament members to engage with Taiwan in various forums, questioning the basis for a unified European engagement with Taiwan.

Taiwan’s identity has evolved from a unified, state-controlled Han Chinese identity to a multiethnic one. Prof. Fen-Fang Tsai of National Central University in Chungli presented the final paper, highlighting the Hakka ethnic group, which exemplifies early and ongoing migration flows between East and Southeast Asia. The Hakka have settled in Taiwan, southern China, and other parts of Southeast Asia. Prof. Tsai demonstrated that Taiwan, as the new home of the Hakka, is becoming increasingly popular for those seeking international marriages while maintaining their ethnic identity.

This workshop was a first step towards bringing together colleagues, students, and the public on the topic of Taiwan.

Information on the Taiwan Studies Centre at Comenius University