Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Keith J. Krach, Visits National Chengchi University for In-Depth Discussion on Taiwan-U.S. Technological Issues
Article by Office of International Cooperation
On August 10th, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Keith J. Krach, visited National Chengchi University and engaged in a fascinating dialogue with students, faculty, and industry experts at the Yuanta Lecture Hall on the topic of 'How to Utilize High Technology to Safeguard Taiwan and Global Democracy and Freedom.' Krach emphasized the importance of 'trusted tech' as a guiding principle for technological development and a powerful antidote against authoritarianism. 'Promoting freedom through technology' is the core mission of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue (KITDP).
During the roundtable discussion, participating scholars enthusiastically posed questions on various concepts such as international affairs, Taiwan-U.S. economic connections, high technology, and energy issues. There was in-depth exploration of topics including the expansion of high-tech industries abroad by TSMC in the United States, concerns about cybersecurity, and ideological threats in the digital realm. There was a strong interest in understanding how KITDP aims to deepen private sector cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. through this visit, showcasing a keen enthusiasm.
Vice President Chen Shu-Heng ( 陳樹衡 ) extended a warm welcome to Keith Krach's visit on behalf of National Chengchi University (NCCU). He mentioned that NCCU had recently signed a university-level Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Purdue University in June, and he expressed gratitude for Mr. Krach's inclusion of NCCU in his tight schedule, which serves to enhance Taiwan-U.S. academic exchange. NCCU is part of the Taiwan Comprehensive University System, where Yang Ming Chiao Tung University excels in technology and research. On the other hand, NCCU possesses rich resources in the fields of geopolitics, international relations, and supply chain research, among others. Vice President Chen looks forward to further deepening cooperation between the two institutions in the future.
During his speech, Krach emphasized that Taiwan's remarkable achievements in technological development have transformed this small island into a powerful ally in upholding the values of freedom. Strengthening Taiwan's prosperity, sovereignty, and international standing is a vital policy of this alliance. He reiterated that contemporary freedom is under threat, but only by steadfastly adhering to this universal value can the grand vision of a 'clean network' be realized. This is also the focal mission of his visit to Taiwan: through Taiwan-U.S. private sector collaboration, solidifying Taiwan's role in a globally trusted technology network and consequently enhancing global technology security and democratic values.
Chen Yan-Ru ( 陳嬿如 ), Associate Dean of the School of Business, raised questions during the session. She inquired whether shifting the technology industry overseas would benefit Taiwan in maintaining its international competitive advantage. She also asked how Taiwan and the United States would collaborate to address the energy shortage issue arising from the high-tech industry. In response, Krach stated that international collaboration represents a '60-60 deal,' where the result is greater than the sum of its parts. Throughout his speech, he consistently affirmed Taiwan's achievements in the realm of freedom and trusted technological development. He believed that Taiwan holds an advantage in trusted technology, which would undoubtedly yield benefits in international cooperation.
Krach also emphasized that energy security is equivalent to national defense security. Expert assessments suggest that 60% of energy will come from solar power fifty years from now. How to gain an advantage in the solar energy industry to counter China is a common goal for Taiwan and the United States. Finally, he underscored the importance of 'Transformational Leadership' and pointed out that the collaboration between Purdue University and National Chengchi University's School of Business is a significant opportunity for nurturing new-generation leaders in this era.
George Chen ( 陳澍 ), former Managing Director of Public Policy for Greater China, Mongolia, and Central Asia at Meta, previously known as Facebook (2016-2023) and current Visiting Scholar at the College of Communication at National Chengchi University, drew from his experience overseeing the Greater China market to share insights into the common challenges faced by Taiwan in the Asian market. He was curious about how to leverage private sector collaboration to overcome these obstacles. Krach, drawing from his own experiences, highlighted that trust is Taiwan's differentiating factor, enabling it to surpass China and become a global business partner for enterprises, showcasing a distinct advantage.
Professor Liu Chao-Lin ( 劉昭麟 ) from the Department of Computer Science also inquired of Krach his perspective on the propaganda war prowess of authoritarian regimes. Krach pointed out that China is constructing a 'Great One-Way China Firewall,' selectively gathering various information and data for its own purposes while obscuring the truth from its citizens. The recent popularity of TikTok in the United States is an extension of this one-way firewall. However, contemporary American society places great emphasis on information transparency, and Taiwan's commitment to information security and preservation will be a significant reason why the United States and the rest of the world are willing to ally with it.
After the event, Yang Hao ( 楊昊 ), Director of the Chinese Language Center and Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Research Center, expressed that as a leading institution in humanities and social sciences in Taiwan, National Chengchi University (NCCU) places significant importance on the role of technology in campus governance. He highlighted that the current university president, Li Tsai-Yen ( 李蔡彥 ), also values the significance of technology in administrative governance. He emphasized, 'The speaker provided NCCU with an excellent blueprint, which holds profound insights for the university's development and transformation.
