在玉山論壇，尋找緩解全球挑戰的創新方案

玉山論壇除了有官方人士提供資訊，每年也邀請來自不同領域的民間單位分享趨勢觀察，以深化區域對話的能量。因此，在「共同打造堅韌未來」的主題下，今年玉山論壇將民間場次的題目設定為「以創新方案緩解全球挑戰」。由臺灣亞洲交流基金會的楊昊執行長主持，以韌性的支柱來開啟序曲，邀及多位民間領袖代表，從智庫、學術、區域青年發展、科技新創、藝文等多元的角度，討論如何以創新的方式來面對現今全球面臨的各項挑戰。

In addition to figures provided by officials, the Yushan Forum also invites non-governmental organizations from different sectors and fields to share their observations to enrich the depth and breadth of the Forum. Therefore, under the theme: Forging a Resilient Future Together, the topic for the non-governmental session for the 2020 Yushan Forum was Mitigating Global Challenges through Innovative solutions. The session was officially presided by Dr. Alan Yang, Executive Director of Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF), and was joined by many civil society leaders in discussing how to address challenges innovatively facing the world, with sub-topics ranging from think tanks, academia regional youth development, technological innovation, as well as art and culture.

擴大新南向戰略，從台印智庫合作開始加強政策對話

首先從戰略的角度出發，臺灣遠景基金會的賴怡忠執行長和斯里蘭卡裔美籍學者Patrick Mendis就疫情時期的中國情勢提出見解。他們提醒各國在積極處理國內疫情時，也需要密切關注區域內的各種危及穩定與和平的擴張行為。賴怡忠點出，疫情讓各國的失業率攀升，且為了疫苗研發，國際關係從合作氛圍轉為競爭。這些恐都會促使民粹主義的興起。就新南向政策而論，Mendis建議台灣要將新南向政策的效益擴大化，藉以增加與區域的連結。

因此，今年的玉山論壇也見證了臺灣亞洲交流基金會與印度國家海事基金會的制度合作計畫，兩會在論壇期間簽署了合作備忘錄並將籌備工作小組，針對印度穆迪總理的印度太平洋海洋倡議的七項政策支柱與台灣新南向政策的五大旗艦計畫等相關政策實踐領域的可能合作方式進行共同研究，未來兩會也將共同辦理各項政策對話與研討會議，臺亞會預計待疫情緩解、國際旅行解禁之際，將籌組訪問團拜訪印度國家海事基金會，並且在印度辦理相關政策對話與交流活動。

Photo Credit：臺灣亞洲交流基金會

Policy dialogue between Taiwan and Indian think-tanks to expand regional strategies

From a strategic perspective, Dr. Lai I-Chung, the Executive Director of the Prospect Foundation, and Dr. Patrick Mendis, a Sri Lankan-American scholar, provided their insights on current Chinese geopolitical trends amidst the epidemic. They reminded that in addition to actively dealing with the Covid-19, it is necessary to pay attention to expansionist tendencies that threaten regional stability and peace. Additionally, Dr. Lai I-Chung has indicated that the epidemic has increased unemployment rates in various countries, and international relations have turned from a cooperative atmosphere to vaccine competition, impacting materialism and promoting the rise of populism. Regarding the New Southbound Policy, Mendis suggested that Taiwan should expand policy benefits to increase regional linkages.

As a result, the 2020 Yushan Forum also prompted bilateral cooperation between TAEF and the National Maritime Foundation of India. The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding during the Forum and will conduct joint-research regarding the seven pillars of India’s Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative and the five flagship projects of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy. The two organizations will also handle various policy-related dialogues and seminars in the future. TAEF expects that when the epidemic subsides, it will organize a delegation to visit the National Maritime Foundation of India and conduct related policy dialogues and exchanges in India.

Photo Credit：臺灣亞洲交流基金會

給青年與公民社會更多發展的機會

在青年發展方面，孟加拉的「青年機會」 組織創辦人Osama Bin Noor指出這個世代的青年獲得許多的教育資源，但青年失業對許多國家，特別是南亞而言，仍然是相當棘手的問題。他因此建立「青年機會」，媒合青年的學習發展需求和企業提供的就業或獎學金機會。他的組織在疫情期間舉辦了「Write to Fight Post COVID-19」寫作競賽，讓青年提出的抗疫方案能被聽見。致力於發展新南向區域人才的台灣，除了主動提供教育訓練，亦可與區域當地的青年組織建立合作關係，達到更廣影響層面。

呼應Bin Noor的主張，亞洲發展聯盟的Jyotsna Mohan Singh博士也提醒，不僅青年，貧窮人口因自由主義帶來的私有化和放鬆管制而更難得到醫衛和其他支持生存的資源。從她的角度看台灣的新南向政策，她認為如果台灣能把民間社會組織正視為國家發展的重要支柱之一，並保持讓公民社會組織參與國家的決策過程，這樣兼具包容性和透明性的做法，能讓台灣找到自己的利基點，在區域的社經發展趨勢上成為不可或缺的一員。

Photo Credit：臺灣亞洲交流基金會

Opportunities for Youth and Civil Society Developments

In regards to youth development, Osama Bin Noor, founder of Bangladesh's Youth Opportunities, pointed out that young people of his generation have an abundance of educational resources. However, youth unemployment is still a problem for many countries ironically, especially in South Asia. In response to the issue, Bin Noor established the platform Youth Opportunities to match employment or scholarship opportunities provided by enterprises to young individuals in need of development. His organization held a Write to Fight Post COVID-19 competition during the epidemic so that youth ideas could be heard. Taiwan, which is committed to developing talents in its New Southbound partner countries, can not only take the initiative to provide education and training but also establish cooperative relationships with local youth organizations in the region to achieve a broader impact.

Concerning Bin Noor’s proposition, Dr. Jyotsna Mohan Singh of the Asia Development Alliance reminded not only young people but the poor as well. For instance, it is increasingly difficult for the poor to receive medical support due to privatization and deregulation. From her perspective, if Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy can regard civil society organizations as one of the salient pillars of national development and maintain the participation of civil society organizations in the country’s decision-making process, it will be both inclusive and transparent. Such a mechanism will enable Taiwan to find its niche and become an indispensable member of the current regional socio-economic development.

用科技與藝術，來協助區域發展

上述是從台灣本身的制度去創新，進而影響區域，但其實台灣也可以透過自身的軟實力，以民間對民間的方式，提供區域、特別是對於人才，更多直接地幫助。來自國際人才創業孵化器STARBOARD的林致孚營運長與竹圍工作室的創辦人蕭麗虹，分享如何以民間的力量對新南向地區的新創和藝文人才產生影響力。

從空間、簽證、到產業與法律的知識，林致孚帶領的STARBOARD協助新創人才在台灣、印度與東協發展創業機會。他發現，這無形中提升了台灣的國際形象，形成一種公民外交。他認為，新創減緩了許多現今全球面臨到的問題，例如：共享機車的發展有助於舒緩交通阻塞，但他不諱言，新創也同時造成其他新挑戰，像是科技背後潛藏的個人隱私侵略、網路霸凌與犯罪等。

Photo Credit：臺灣亞洲交流基金會

蕭麗虹與竹圍工作室以「在地行動，國際連結」的精神，25年來發展出相當廣的國際藝文網絡，從你我熟悉的歐、美、日，到與我們有更多文化連結的東南亞。這次的疫情造成許多人喪失了生計，弱勢族群大幅增加。蕭麗虹認為，藝術家在此時，並不只是等待補助救濟的一方，而是更有能力為社會做出貢獻的人，因為藝術工作者感性的特質，往往更願意給予弱勢者關懷。近期竹圍工作室即針對東南亞12國的藝術家和藝文單位進行調查，以了解東南亞藝文組織受疫情影響的層面，因疫情而展開的數位轉型、社區服務、藝術行動，以及藝術工作者如何重新看待藝術在大型公衛緊急事件下的角色。我們從中看見了藝文對社會產生的影響力。

Technology and Art in Regional Development

Taiwan can also use its soft power advantage in providing direct assistance to the region. In particular, support for young talents through the help of non-governmental sectors. Uniform Lin, the chief operating officer of STARBOARD, an international entrepreneurship incubator, and Magaret Shiu, the founder of Bamboo Studio, shared how to use the power of the non-governmental sector to influence creativity and artistic talents in our New Southbound partners.

From space, visas to industry and legal knowledge, STARBOARD assists new entrepreneurs in developing entrepreneurial opportunities in Taiwan, India, and ASEAN. Lin found that this has virtually enhanced Taiwan's international image and formed a type of civic diplomacy. He believes that startups have alleviated many problems facing the world today. For example, the development of shared car rides can help ease traffic congestion. But he does not deny that innovations have also introduced new challenges, such as cyber bullying, cyber insecurity, and cybercrime.

Demonstrating the spirit of Local Action, Global Connection, Magaret Shiu and Bamboo Studio have developed an extensive international art network in the past 25 years, from European, American, Japanese to Southeast Asia. The epidemic has resulted in job loss for many people and further marginalized disadvantaged groups. Shiu believes that at this time, artists are not just sitting out the pandemic or waiting for subsidies, but people who are more capable of making contributions to society. Because of the perceptual characteristics of artists, they are often more willing to give care to the disadvantaged. Recently, Bamboo Studio has conducted a survey of art units in 12 Southeast Asian countries analyzing to what extent are Southeast Asian art organizations affected by the epidemic, ongoing digital transformation, and community services. Through this survey, they are exploring how art workers are reconsidering the role of art in public health crisis. From the survey, we have observed the influence that art and culture can bring to a society.

疫情更突顯新南向政策為區域連結的支柱

疫情限制了人、國家、區域之間的連結，但面對如此嚴峻的局勢，我們更需要把握時間，加強彼此間的對話與合作，才有可能發展出適合疫情之下與之後的區域關係。在台灣安全的環境下，玉山論壇有幸如期舉行，讓台灣能在疫情期間繼續串起亞洲乃至於與全球的對話，提供來自不同國家的政府與民間單位持續連結的機會。而新南向政策就是促進這個連結永續發展最好的支柱。

New Southbound Policy: A Pillar for Regional Connectivity

The epidemic has restricted interactions between people, countries, and regions. However, we need to seize the opportunity and strengthen dialogue and cooperation with each other to develop regional relations suitable for and after the epidemic. In Taiwan, the Yushan Forum is fortunate to proceed as scheduled, allowing Taiwan to link with Asia and even the world during the epidemic, and provide opportunities for governments and non-governmental organizations from different countries to connect. New Southbound Policy is thus an excellent way to promote regional connectivity sustainably.

本文章內容由「臺灣亞洲交流基金會」提供，經關鍵評論網媒體集團廣編企劃編審。