On March 22, 2021, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Texas at Austin. Both parties agreed to establish the Taiwan Studies Center (TSC) following a successful twelve years of the existing Taiwan Studies Program. This new Center is established with the aim to boost intellectual collaboration on Taiwan-focused topics and to strengthen understanding on the leading democracy in East Asia.

The signing ceremony was held on campus at the University of Texas at Austin. Director-General Robert Fu-wen Lo of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston and Dr. Sonia Feigenbaum, Senior Vice Provost for Global Engagement and Chief International Officer of the University of Texas at Austin, signed on behalf of both sides. Congressman Michael T. McCaul also attended and signed the MOU as a witness. Other distinguished guests are Texas State Representative and Chairperson of the International Relations and Economic Development Committee of the Texas House of Representatives Angie Chen Button, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’s State Director Carl B. Mica, Associate Dean & Rapoport Centennial Professor Robert Crosnoe of UT’s College of Liberal Arts, Department of Sociology. The Center’s Principal Investigator, Professor Sung-sheng Yvonne Chang of the Department of Asian Studies, and Co-Principal Investigator, Professor Tse-Min Lin of the Department of Government were also in attendance.

Director-General Lo thanked the University of Texas at Austin for its support of the Taiwan Studies Program. Congressman Michael McCaul was thanked for his continued support of Taiwan and for promoting shared values of freedom, democracy, the free market, and the rule of law. Professor Yvonne Chang and Professor Tse-Min Lin were recognized for helping develop a robust Taiwan Studies Program in the heart of Texas over 12 years. The Center for Taiwan Studies will help strengthen the research, teaching, and in-depth discussion of Taiwan-focused subjects among the academic community and public. The program aims to enhance understanding of Taiwan’s diverse democratic society, culture, government, and economy.

Congressman McCaul congratulated the accomplishment and emphasized that Taiwan is a leading democracy and an important partner of the United States for regional security and stability. He welcomed intellectual cooperation between the University and Taiwan to help strengthen the depth and breadth of Taiwan studies in the Southern United States.

Dr. Sonia Feigenbum, signatory on behalf of the University of Texas at Austin, recognized the importance of establishing the Center and thanked the generous sponsorship of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Center for Taiwan Studies will not only promote Taiwan-focused researches and teaching, but will also create electronic journals, host regular online forums, and award interdisciplinary research on topics relevant to Taiwan.

Photo 1: Group photo taken after the MOU signing for the Center for Taiwan Studies. From left to right are U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’s State Director Carl B. Mica, Texas State Representative Angie Chen Button , Senior Vice Provost for Global Engagement and Chief International Officer of the University of Texas at Austin Dr. Sonia Feigenbaum, Congressman Michael T. McCaul, Director-General Robert Fu-wen Lo of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Houston, Professor Sung-sheng Yvonne Chang of the Department of Asian Studies, Professor Tse-Min Lin of the Department of Government, Associate Dean & Rapoport Centennial Professor Robert Crosnoe of UT’s College of Liberal Arts, and Education Director Andrea Yang of TECO in Houston.

Photo 2: Director-General Robert Fu-Wen Lo speaks at the MOU signing ceremony for the UT Taiwan Studies Center.

Photo 3: Director-General Robert Fu-Wen Lo signs the MOU on behalf of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Photo 4: Dr. Sonia Feigenbaum signs the MOU on behalf of UT-Austin.

Photo 5: Congressman Michael T. McCaul signs the MOU as a witness.