Resilience, collaboration and solidarity among nations take center stage at the Ninth Yushan Forum

The Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation hosted the ninth edition of its flagship Yushan Forum in Taipei, Taiwan on March 16-17, 2026 under the theme “Indo-Pacific Partnership Prospects: Taiwan’s Values, Technology and Resilience.”

The event convened over 70 economic and political leaders from 22 countries this year, and was welcomed by Taiwan’s key leaders. including President Ching-te Lai; Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao; Foreign Minister Chia-lung Lin; Digital Affairs Minister Yi-jing Lin, National Security Council (R.O.C.) Senior Advisor Yuh-Jye Lee; National Institute of Cybersecurity President Dr. Der-Tsai Lee; Economic Affairs Deputy Minister Cynthia Kiang; Environment Minister Chi-Ming Peng; Interior Minister Shyh-fang Liu; and Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation Chairman Dr. Michael Hsin-Hsuang Hsiao.

International prominent figures were also present, notably, Polish Economic Development and Technology State Secretary Michal Jaros; Paraguay Information and Communication Technologies Minister Gustavo Emigdio Villate Samaniego; Former Polish president Lech Walesa; former British State Secretary for International Trade Liam Fox; former Indian External Affairs Policy Advisor Ashok Malik; former New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta; former Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene; former New Zealand Defence Minister Ron Mark; former Fijian Prime Minister Mahendra Pal Chaudhry; former Philippine Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo; Japan-Republic of China Diet Members’ Consultative Council Keiji Furuya; former Member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (Japan) Akira Amari; and former Conservative Party of Canada leader Erin O’Toole, among others.

This year’s forum covered eight (8) sessions, discussing partnerships in digital solidarity, resilient economy, technology innovation and social resilience among the government, industry, academia, and civil society organisations. Three particular corridors were also given respective emphasis, particularly the think tank, non-governmental organisation, and youth corridors.

STEAR was represented by President Yusril Nurhidayat and Editor-in-Chief Prince Ernest Eugene Ronson D. Sabado. 

STEAR President Yusril Nurhidayat (left) and Editor-in-Chief Prince Ernest Eugene Ronson D. Sabado (right).

Nurhidayat and Sabado pushed for the organisation’s agenda in enhancing Europe-Asia relations in the event as the first and leading policy institute for students and young professionals in both regions and raised policy matters concerning the youth today, including potential youth quota representation in government, enhancing Taiwan-EU cooperation in emerging technologies and pursuing more Track 1.5 dialogue across all levels of cooperation between Asian and European economies today.

STEAR continues to be a proud international partner of the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, following the successful iterations of the Southeast Asia-South Asia-Taiwan (SEASAT) Youth Camp 2025 and the ASEAN-EU Summer School 2025.