Founding Mission

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has experienced rapid economic growth in recent years and has been actively promoting economic integration centered on ASEAN centrality, drawing global attention. For a long time, Taiwan has engaged in close cooperation with ASEAN member states in various areas, including trade, investment, industry, culture, education and more. In light of the economic rise and rapid integration in Southeast Asia, ASEAN research has gradually become a topic of significant interest in Taiwan. 

In response to this, the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER) was commissioned by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish the “Taiwan ASEAN Studies Center” on October 1, 2009. The primary mission of this center is to promote ASEAN research, build a platform for domestic and international exchanges on ASEAN-related topics, and strengthen Taiwan's interaction and cooperation with ASEAN. Since the center’s inception over 15 years ago, Southeast Asia and the international landscape have undergone significant transformation. Major power competition, the COVID-19 pandemic, and emerging issues like climate change, technological innovation, and shifts in political ecology of various countries have reshaped the global political and economic situation as well as the industrial landscape. Simultaneously, Taiwan's “New Southbound Policy” and its crucial role in the semiconductor supply chain have gained international prominence. In response, our center has adjusted its research focus and scope, expanding upon its existing research foundation to address a wider range of topics and enhance collaboration and exchange with research institutions in Indo-Pacific nations.