Policy Analysis on U.S.-Taiwan Relations
In addition to my academic research in international affairs, I work on the policy aspects of U.S.-Taiwan relations. I am a member of the U.S.-Taiwan Next Generation Working Group, a program organized by the Institute of East Asian Studies at UC Berkeley for specialists in Taiwan’s foreign affairs. My policy writing has been published in the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, Global Asia, Network for Strategic Analysis, East Asia Forum, and The Diplomat. I have appeared on panels on Taiwan’s security sponsored by the Atlantic Council, the Democracy Forum, George Washington University, and UC Berkeley. I have also been interviewed or quoted by the University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, BBC World News, Nikkei Asia, the Financial Times, Agence France-Presse, The Signal, The Straits Times, Voice of America, Al Jazeera, El Mercurio, and the Ploughshares Fund.
Policy Publications and Op-Eds (Selected)
James Lee, Ja Ian Chong, Hsin-Hsin Pan, Chien-Huei Wu, and Wen-Chin Wu. 25 October 2023. “The Risks of Ambiguity: Taiwanese Public Opinion, US Credibility, and Effective Deterrence” Le Rubicon. (French: https://lerubicon.org/lopinion-publique-taiwanaise-la-credibilite-des-etats-unis-et-lefficacite-de-la-dissuasion/; English: https://ras-nsa.ca/the-risks-of-ambiguity-taiwanese-public-opinion-us-credibility-and-effective-deterrence/)
James Lee. 7 November 2022. “The One-China Policy in Transition.” Georgetown Journal of International Affairs. https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2022/11/07/the-one-china-policy-in-transition/
James Lee. “What the Taiwan Relations Act Really Means for U.S. Policy.” Global Asia 17, no. 3 (2022). https://www.globalasia.org/v17no3/cover/what-the-taiwan-relations-act-really-means-for-us-policy_james-lee
John Delury, Stephan Haggard, and James Lee. “Introduction: The Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis Is Here.” Global Asia 17, no. 3 (2022). https://www.globalasia.org/v17no3/cover/introduction-the-fourth-taiwan-strait-crisis-is-here_john-delury-stephan-haggardjames-lee
“Taiwan and the ‘New Cold War.’” Network for Strategic Analysis.
“The Strategic Logic of Nancy Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan” (with Patrick Hulme). The Diplomat.
“Will Nancy Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan Trigger a Crisis?” (with Jackie Wong). Political Violence at a Glance.
“The One China Policy: Adapting to Tensions in the Taiwan Strait.” UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation.
“Supply chains critical to Taiwan’s security.” East Asia Forum.
“The Taiwan Question in US-China Relations and Its Implications for the European Union.” Cadmus Research Repository, European University Institute.
Professional Experience
Project Director. Cover Story: “Taking Taiwan: The Risk, and Costs, of China Choosing Conflict.” Global Asia 17, no. 3 (2022). https://www.globalasia.org/issue.php?bo_table=issues&wr_id=9025
U.S.-Taiwan Next Generation Working Group, UC Berkeley (May 2021 – present)
Taiwan Security Research (Senior Editor: Jan. 2017 – Oct. 2020; Assistant Editor: May 2016 – Dec. 2016)
Presentations and Panel Discussions
“Evaluating Taiwan’s Quest for International Space.” The Atlantic Council
“Taiwan: Is It Key to the Continuing World Order?” The Democracy Forum
“Taiwan and the ‘New Cold War’” Network for Strategic Analysis
“50 Years after the Nixon-Mao Summit: Views from Japan, Taiwan, and India.” East Asia National Resource Center, George Washington University
“New Paths for U.S.-Taiwan Ties: A Conversation with NextGen Scholars.” East Asia National Resource Center, George Washington University
“The Semiconductor Industry and the Security of Taiwan.” Institute of East Asian Studies, UC Berkeley
Podcasts and Interviews
“Dispatch from Taiwan: After the 20th National Congress.” Talking Policy (UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation)
“Dispatch from Taiwan: How Likely Is War with China?” Talking Policy (UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation)
Michael Bluhm. 6 August 2022. “Storm Warning.” The Signal.
“Will Taiwan Be the Next Ukraine?” Talking Policy (UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation)
“What is Biden’s Taiwan policy?” Press the Button (Ploughshares Fund)
“Would the U.S. Go to War over Taiwan?” Press the Button (Ploughshares Fund)
“Will the U.S. Go to War over Taiwan?” Talking Policy (UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation)
News
Quoted in Gabriele Carrer and Emanuele Rossi, 27 January 2024, “Tra propaganda e guerra ibrida, Taiwan resta centrale per Usa e Cina [Between Propaganda and Hybrid War, Taiwan Continues to be Central for the United States and China]” Formiche, https://formiche.net/2024/01/tpropaganda-guerra-ibrida-taiwan-usa-e-cina/
Quoted in Marianne Björklund, 15 January 2024, “Fyra tuffa år väntar för Taiwans nya president Lai [Four Difficult Years Ahead for Taiwan’s New President Lai],” Dagens Nyheter, https://www.dn.se/varlden/fyra-tuffa-ar-vantar-for-taiwans-nya-president-lai/
Quoted in Martin Kölling, 12 January 2024, “Drei Szenarien: Wie wird China auf die Wahl in Taiwan reagieren? [Three Scenarios: How Will China React to the Election in Taiwan?” Handelsblatt, https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/asien-drei-szenarien-wie-wird-china-auf-die-wahl-in-taiwan-reagieren/100003083.html
Quoted in Ken Moriyasu, 21 November 2023, “Xi Comment on ‘Resolving’ Taiwan Raises Concern, Scholars Say,” Nikkei Asia, https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Taiwan-tensions/Xi-comment-on-resolving-Taiwan-raises-concern-Taipei-scholars-say?fbclid=IwAR3uNtFjjIyjMqtsHMsQeMVqQ0bDAUbTP36rK_x2nHm5x8K3-dupjLoN-lA
Quoted in Tina Chen-fang Chung, 24 June 2023, “Following Blinken’s Visit to China, Beijing Accuses the United States of ‘Distorting’ the One-China Policy; Experts: Beijing Is Spreading Disinformation.” Voice of America, Mandarin Edition. https://www.voachinese.com/a/experts-debunk-chinese-accusation-after-blinken-visit-that-us-distorts-its-one-china-policy-in-joint-communiques-on-taiwan-20230623/7150731.html
Appeared on Newsday. 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM National Standard Time. 6 April 2023. BBC World News.
Quoted in Yip Wai Yee. 12 April 2023. “Taiwan’s Ruling Party DPP Names William Lai as Its Presidential Candidate.” Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taiwan-s-ruling-party-dpp-names-william-lai-as-its-presidential-candidate
Quoted in Yip Wai Yee. 8 April 2023. “Two Taiwan Trips - to US and China - Reflect Diverging Visions on How to Protect Island.” Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/two-taiwan-trips-to-us-and-china-reflect-diverging-visions-on-how-to-protect-island
Quoted in Kathrin Hille. 5 April 2023. “Taiwan’s Deepening Political Divide over the US and China.” Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/b625d080-5d48-4374-b1d7-9d668530eb3a
Quoted in Agence France-Presse. 28 March 2023. “Taiwan President Heads to US, Central America to Shore Up Ties.” France 24. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230329-taiwan-president-heads-to-us-central-america-to-shore-up-ties-1
Quoted in Yip Wai Yee. 24 January 2023. “‘Nobody Wants War’: Taiwanese Islanders Who Live Near China.” Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/nobody-wants-war-taiwanese-islanders-who-live-near-china
Quoted in Yip Wai Yee. 17 January 2023. “In Taiwan’s Survival Game Plan, Rum and Chips Are Part of the Toolkit.” Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/in-taiwan-s-survival-game-plan-rum-and-chips-are-part-of-the-toolkit
Quoted in “Why China Is Not Sanctioning Taiwan’s Key Chip Industry.” 4 August 2022. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/8/4/why-china-is-not-sanctioning-taiwans-crucial-tech-industry
Quoted in Liam Gibson. 2 August 2022. “Nancy Pelosi Lands in Taiwan amid heightened US-China tensions.” Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/2/nancy-pelosi-lands-in-taiwan-amid-heightened-us-china-tensions
Quoted in Nicolás García de Val. 2 August 2022. “Con Pelosi en Asia, China amenaza con tomar represalias ‘firmes y decididas’ si ilega a Taiwán.” El Mercurio.
Quoted in Eva Luna Gatica. 1 June 2022. “China amenaza a Taiwán y reaviva temores de una invasión al territorio.” El Mercurio.
Quoted in Nicolás García de Val. 25 May 2022. “En Mesaje a Beijing, EE.UU. y socios del Indo Pacífico advierten contra ‘cambios por la fuerza.’" El Mercurio.
Quoted in Chen-fang Chung. 21 April 2022. “美学者：“华盛顿共识”成形，美国国会与行政当局对中国立场渐趋坚硬.” Voice of America (Chinese). https://www.voachinese.com/a/author-of-new-book-on-us-china-relations-said-washington-consensus-to-harden-on-china-will-endure-20220420/6538139.html (NB. I am quoted in the article, but I am not the scholar quoted in the headline.)
Quoted in Liam Gibson. 1 April 2022. “Taiwan’s ‘Silicon Shield’: Why Island May Not Be the Next Ukraine.” Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/4/1/silicon-shield-why-taiwan-is-not-the-next-ukraine
Quoted in Chen-fang Chung. 29 October 2021. “拜登政府寻求更有力支持台湾参与联合国系统.” Voice of America (Chinese). https://www.voachinese.com/a/blinken-statement-supporting-taiwan-un-participation-showing-new-effort-china-dislikes-20211028/6289929.html