Last year, Taiwan's president Ma Ying-jeou announced his government's intention to negotiate an economic cooperation framework agreement with China. The agreement, which will soon be completed, would give Taiwan unprecedented access to the Chinese market. Given its democratic political system, its advanced economy, and its centrality in global manufacturing and supply chains, Taiwan has the potential to become a leading economic and business-operations hub in Asia, a development that would have stabilizing effects on both cross-strait and Sino-American relations. Nevertheless, is Taiwan positioned to take full advantage of that opening? What policies should Taiwan adopt to make itself a more attractive place for multinationals wanting to do business in Asia?

To address the economic and strategic benefits of Taiwan becoming an Asian center for business activity, a panel of experts will consider these and other questions. Paul Wolfowitz, a visiting scholar at AEI, will deliver the keynote address.