The New Southbound Policy : The Pursuit of Mutual Prosperity, Benefits, Sharing, and Consensus (新南向豐碩之旅英文版)

The present geopolitical climate poses significant obstacles to broad regional economic integration, particularly as the global economic and trade system remains in a state of flux. Taiwan is situated at the nexus of Northeast and Southeast Asia and serves as a crucial strategic pivot in the Indo-Pacific region, giving its New Southbound Policy (NSP) a foundational role in shaping a diverse array of economic and trade strategies.

In August 2016, President Tsai convened a meeting to strategize over Taiwan's international economic and trade policy, during which she appr oved the adoption of policy guidelines for the NSP which se t forth its guiding principles as well as its short, mid, and long-term goals.

The NSP embraces the principles of long-term cultivation, diversified expansion, and mutual benefits, integrating governmental resources with support from private enterprises and organizations. Focused on four key pillars — economic and trade cooperation, talent exchange, resource sharing, and regional connections — it aims to forge a mutually beneficial, win-win model of cooperation with ASEAN and South Asian countries as well as Australia and New Zealand.

Unlike prior policies, which were largely economic and trade-centric, the NSP acts as a linchpin in Taiwan's overarching economic blueprint linking Taiwan to the broader narrative of the Indo-Pacific region. It also seeks to create a symbiotic relationship characterized by mutual prosperity, benefits, sharing, and consensus. In essence, the NSP has evolved to embrace not just economics and trade, but to cultivate goodwill among the countries to Taiwan's south.

Recent shifts in the global political and economic landscape signal the increasing relevance of the Indo-Pacific region in global developments of the 21st century. For Taiwan, the region's economic and security dynamics are intimately tied to our own national security concerns. Whether it is the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, Japan and India 's Free and Open Indo -Pacific Strategy, or South Korea's New Southern Policy, these regional initiatives resonate with Taiwan's NSP, underscoring the validity and significance of our approach.

Taiwan is committed to adhering to international conventions and collaborating with allies sharing similar values to advance regional prosperity and growth. We possess the potential to be a pivotal force in the peaceful development of the Indo-Pacific region as well as a dependable link in the region's resilient supply chains. By steering our efforts in the right direction and securing our foothold to Taiwan's south, we are setting the stage for expanding our influence across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Attachment: "The New Southbound Policy: The Pursuit of Mutual Prosperity, Benefits, Sharing, and Consensus"