Taiwan Symposium

Deterrence, Partnership, and the Future of the Indo-Pacific

Join the University of North Georgia as top strategic minds from the United States and Taiwan convene to examine the shifting geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific.

Our symposium unites leaders across government, defense, industry, and academia for an in-depth look at Taiwan’s evolving security framework. 

Who should attend?

  • Academia: Faculty, staff, researchers, and students
  • Public Sector: Military, defense, and policy professionals
  • Private Sector: Business, tech, and civic leaders 

Registration Form

Hosts: UNG, College of Arts & Letters in collaboration with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Atlanta.

Date: October 20, 2026

When: 9 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Location: Dahlonega Campus, Wynne Mathews Military Science Center

Contact: Chris Cook, USA LTC (Ret)

Taiwan Symposium Schedule

Time Event

9 a.m.

Opening: Posting of the Colors

9:05 a.m.

 Weclome: President Shannon

9:10 a.m.

UNG President and Director General Lin formally establish UNG's Center for Taiwan Studies

9:15 a.m.

Welcome: Director General Lin

9:30 a.m.

First Keynote: Awaiting information details

10:15 a.m.

First Panel: Strengthening Taiwan's Defense

This panel will explore how Taiwan, the US, and other partners can improve Taiwan’s ability to defend itself from attempts by the People’s Republic of Taiwan to coerce Taiwan into unification.

  • Keynote speaker
    • LtGen James Glynn, USMC, (ret.), Fmr. Commander, Marine Forces Pacific
    • Heino Klinck, Fmr. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia
    • Lyle Morris, Senior Fellow, Asia Society
  • Moderator:
    • Dr. Laurel Wei, Associate Professor of Political Science, UNG

11:30 a.m.

Lunch

12:30 a.m.

Keynote: Horng-Heui Po, Former Vice Minister of National Defense, the current Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Institute for National Defense and Security Research

1 p.m.

Second Panel: To Win without Fighting: A Non-kinetic Defense

This panel will focus on steps that can be taken by Taiwan, the US, and others to reinforce Taiwan’s security in ways beyond the military. What other tools are available to defend Taiwan or deter the PRC?

Keynote speaker

  • Bonny Lin, Dir, China Power Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies
  • Dalton Lin, Associate Professor, Georgia Tech
  • Stephen Hunnewell, Senior Principal, MITRE Corporation

Moderator: Dr. Scott McDonald, Assistant Professor of Political Science, UNG

2 p.m.

Coffee Break

2:15 p.m.

Third Keynote: LtGen Stephen Sklenka, USMC (ret.)

2:45 p.m.

Third Panel: Future of US-Taiwan Cooperation 

This panel will examine how to better integrate Taiwan-US cooperation across
government and a range of issues. How can Taipei, Washington, and various domestic actors
expand and deepen the bilateral relations to help protect it from atrophy or subversion?

Keynote speaker

  • Allan Lin, CEO Winmate
  • Brent Christensen, Fmr Director, American Institute in Taiwan—Taipei
  • COL Matt Kent, USA (ret.), Fmr Chief, Liaison Affairs Section, American Institute in Taiwan

Moderator: LTG James Jarrad, USA (ret), Professor of Practice, UNG

3:45 p.m.

Closing Remarks

More details will be added as announced

Additional Resources

Sponsored in Partnership with TECO Atlanta