A new fellowship was announced on Wednesday, November 11th, which will allow some U.S. federal employees to work for as long as one year in Taiwan government offices and other organizations. The fellowship will first offer an intensive Mandarin language course/study and then place individuals into positions for up to one year in parliament offices, ministries, other public agencies or private-sector organizations in Taiwan.
AIT, the body that manages America’s informal ties to Taiwan, has launched this initiative. Reuters reported that funding for the initiative is provided for in the 2023 Taiwan Fellowship Act enacted by the U.S. Congress. It remains unclear how many individuals will participate in the initiative annually. On Tuesday, AIT stated that the memorandum of understanding setting up the fellowship program was signed in the U.S.
A professional exchange with a strategic purpose
AIT has stated that this fellowship program was designed to enhance the relationship between the United States and Taiwan, as well as increase the understanding of American officials regarding Taiwan. The intention is to establish a network of federal employees who possess language abilities, have a familiarity with Taiwan’s culture, and develop long-term working relationships. This goal can be accomplished by providing employees with firsthand experiences; employees who have worked within local organizations and participated in policy discussions will be able to collaborate more effectively with their Taiwanese peers upon returning to their positions in the U.S.
The program isn’t being presented as either a diplomatic mission or as part of a military deployment. Program participants will learn Mandarin and then be assigned to positions with Taiwan’s government agencies or non-profit groups. Whether the program provides value depends upon which federal agencies participate, what types of assignments the program provides, and how well those assignments relate to the employee’s regular job responsibilities. There were no specific operational details or information about the number of people who can apply for the program each year in the public release.
The fellowship is similar to a current program that exists in the United States. Congress created the Mike Mansfield Fellowship in 1994, which allows U.S. federal employees to work inside Japanese governmental organizations once they have learned Japanese. The Mansfield Fellowship serves as a precedent for developing expertise over time. However, the political and diplomatic environment related to Taiwan is different from Japan’s.
Taiwan’s unofficial relationship with Washington
The fellowship is part of a complex diplomatic situation. Most countries (including the U.S.) do not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan; however, Washington has unofficial relations with Taiwan that are very strong and is also the largest provider of foreign aid and military equipment to Taiwan, according to Reuters. China says that Taiwan is a province of China and is opposed to the U.S. having official contact with Taiwan and providing them with military equipment.
This provides a diplomatic sensitivity to all interactions with Taiwan, whether military or otherwise. Providing training for U.S. government personnel within Taiwan’s institutional framework could increase understanding of Taiwan’s internal workings and develop stronger relationships, however, it may also attract criticism from China. AIT’s press release indicated that the program would expand on people-to-people connections and provide bipartisan support for the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. However, while these are AIT’s identified goals, there is no indication that the program alters the United States’ official diplomatic relationship with Taiwan.
The program is set up as US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping plan to hold talks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit next week in Shenzhen, Reuters said. Therefore, the Fellowship could receive public interest as a part of an overall period of engagement among Washington, Beijing and Taipei. From the announcement, it is unclear if the initiative will be discussed during these leaders’ meetings.
Why language and local experience matter
Mandarin study is an essential element of the fellowship program. The learning of language will assist officials to understand the policies discussed, to comprehend the debates of the public and to create a bond with their peers. Additionally, the development of cultural awareness may assist in improving communication between individuals working within different administrative systems in both the U.S. and Taiwan. To acquire these types of knowledge and skill sets requires time, and being placed at a job provides a unique learning experience that does not compare to short-term visits or formal presentations.
The success of this program depends upon more than the physical location of the placement. It will be important for participants to have clearly defined roles, to protect sensitive data and to find ways to produce results which benefit both parties. Taiwan organizations will need to believe they are receiving value from hosting fellows. Providing transparent selection criteria and providing reports on outcomes can demonstrate if the initiative produces practical expertise as opposed to being purely symbolic.
A small program with a longer horizon
While there is no way to know how large the fellowship is at present, because there is no way to find out how many participants are involved in each year, I believe that the fellowship will have a gradual effect upon our government, through the use of language skills and professional network connections that former fellows will develop when working within different branches of the U.S. government. Fellowships such as this rarely change policy on their own, but they do provide a means for developing the quality of information and relationships used by policymakers.
In addition, there are concerns regarding sustainability. The program initiated by a previous administration may have to compete for resources, such as funding, with subsequent administrations or due to changes in foreign policy. After participants return home they may require additional assistance in order to practice Mandarin and stay connected to others. Additionally, Taiwan’s institutions will require clarity regarding how long the initiative will last and what form it will take.
The announcement establishes a new means of regular communication as cross-strait ties continue to be a cause of concern within the region. The most specific parts of the program include the study of languages, and placements that can last as long as one year. It is still unclear how many officials will participate in the program, what government agencies will serve as hosts, and how the success of the program will be measured. The number of participants, the agency hosting the participants and how the success of the program is assessed will help determine if the fellowship becomes a long-term mechanism for building better understanding between both sides or simply a short-term exchange.