TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — World Congress of Taiwan Studies helps to maintain Taiwan’s success on the global stage, Academia Sinica President James C Liao (廖俊智) said on Wednesday.

The 5th World Congress of Taiwan Studies kicked off Wednesday at Academia Sinica, attracting more than 750 scholars from 30 countries.

Liao said that Taiwan has become a model for others to imitate despite being constantly under threat. To understand the reasons for its success, Taiwan studies are necessary “to make sure we can continue this success for years to come.”

Liao described Taiwan as “anti-fragile,” meaning that every setback the country faces makes us even stronger.” He said that Taiwan thrived during the Korean and Vietnam wars and, more recently, avoided the worst of the COVID pandemic.

That was when everybody began to recognize TSMC, he said. “Everything that matters is produced in Taiwan.”

Liao highlighted Taiwan’s “special mosaic of cultures,” built on Indigenous, Chinese, European, Japanese, and American influences. This created a unique atmosphere for Taiwanese to thrive — "not just in tech but in our culture and our way of life,” he said.

He said that this year’s congress is the largest and most important. 

The WCTS includes 155 events over three days, covering topics like literature, history, economics, archaeology, and Indigenous studies. By facilitating in-depth academic dialogue, the congress seeks to elevate the quality of research and strengthen international academic networks in Taiwan studies, per Academia Sinica.