EWC Insights: New Indo-pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)

On May 23, 2022, while in Tokyo, Japan, United States President Joe Biden announced the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) with a dozen initial partners: Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. On May 26, Fiji joined as the 14th founding member. The members represent 40% of the world's gross domestic product (GDP). However, the new cooperation raised an issue about whether to include Taiwan, which was disappointed by the initial exclusion. Judging by objective criteria, it makes sense to include this major democratic, economic, and technological player in the world. Ms. Shirley Kan will discuss whether Taiwan's participation would advance the shared strategic goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific that is more inclusive, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient. She will address what is IPEF? What is it not? What are the context and considerations for Taiwan's potential participation? And what are Taiwan's challenges and options? 
 
Ms. Shirley Kan is an independent specialist in Asian security affairs who retired from working for Congress at the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS). Serving the US Government since the late 1980s, Shirley Kan specializes in security policies concerning Taiwan and concerning the People's Republic of China (PRC). Ms. Kan closely supported Congress as a Specialist in Asian Security Affairs at CRS from 1990 to 2015. She received a Special Achievement Award for 25 years of commitment to Congress. Ms. Kan has served as an original Member of the Advisory Board of the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI), a think tank in Washington, DC, since its founding in 2016. As of July 2022, she is a member of its new Task Force to review the US-Taiwan partnership. Ms. Kan testifies and speaks at congressional hearings and conferences. She is cited in the media as an authoritative, independent specialist. She writes analyses that have appeared widely in publications.