On 25 May 2026, Prof. Dr. Da-Nien Liu visited MLNGT and gave a talk on the topic: “Taiwan Under a Changing Global Landscape.” With a PhD degree in Economics from Cornell University, Prof. Dr. Liu is a renowned scholar and economist. He was the Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council of the government. He is currently the Director and Research Fellow of Center of Regional Development Study at Chung-Hua Institute of Economic Research (CIER), the leading think tank in Taiwan.

Prof. Dr. Liu’s talk provided participants with a comprehensive overview of Taiwan’s economic development, industrial strengths, and the evolving challenges facing the global trading system. He highlighted Taiwan’s remarkable economic achievements, emphasizing its strong competitiveness, democratic governance, and resilient growth performance. He noted that Taiwan recorded an impressive GDP growth rate of 8.6% in 2025 and has become a key contributor to global supply-chain resilience, particularly in semiconductors, information and communication technologies (ICT), AI servers, and advanced manufacturing. Taiwan’s strategic role in the global technology ecosystem and its expanding international investment network were also discussed.

A major focus of the lecture was the resurgence of protectionist trade policies under the Trump administration. Prof. Dr. Liu analyzed the implications of reciprocal tariffs, Section 232 measures, and broader U.S. efforts to reshape global supply chains. He explained how these policies may accelerate supply-chain restructuring, encourage reshoring to the United States, and increase pressure on economies with significant trade surpluses, including Taiwan. The lecture further examined Taiwan’s responses to these developments, including industrial upgrading, diversification of overseas investment, and the strengthening of trusted and democratic supply-chain partnerships. The presentation concluded that while geopolitical and economic uncertainties continue to grow, Taiwan remains well-positioned to play a pivotal role in the future global economy through innovation, technological leadership, and international cooperation.