The Conference ‘Taiwan as a Contact Zone: Connecting to the German-Speaking World’ took place at the University of Vienna, Vienna Center for Taiwan Studies (VCTS) from 3 – 4 January 2025. The conference theme aligned with current Asian Studies trends, shedding light on its multifaceted interactions and exploring how broader Europe-based engagement has shaped and continues to shape the landscape of Taiwan Studies. Focus was on the Germanophone nations and their expertise in Taiwan-related topics and/or academic exchanges between both Taiwan and the German-speaking countries in Europe from the mid-19th century to today.
The conference featured 24 presentations from international scholars and led to a follow-up workshop in Bratislava, at Comenius University on 7 January, entitled “Taiwan Workshop, Challenging Legacies in Taiwan”. It was the inaugural workshop of the newly established Taiwan Studies Center, instigated by Director Prof. Dr. Sascha Klotzbuecher.
Conference Highlights
Despite tight timelines and funding approvals arriving late in 2024, all invited participants confirmed their attendance. This resulted in a smooth event kickoff with no delays or no-shows. In addition to the sprout project team members; Ann Heylen and Lu Yu-hsiu (NTNU) and Thomas Fliß (Trier Unversity), the conference hosted colleagues with close contacts with NTNU; Christine Moll-Murata (RUB), Mirjam Troesterr (Frankfurt Goethe University), Astrid Lipinsky (Vienna University), as well as colleagues in law, cultural studies and history departments from multiple other Taiwanese universities.
- Engaging Discussions: Josie-Marie Perkhun (Trier University) expertly guided panel discussions, ensuring every speaker connected their presentations to the conference theme. Although lively Q&A sessions ran overtime, leading to a rescheduled start on Day 2, the discussions were rich and thought-provoking.
- Insightful Observations: Keynote speaker Dr. Gudrun Wacker emphasized the growing need for cultural and political expertise in technological and media innovations. Another key takeaway was the challenge of translating terms related to transitional justice, law, and literature into German and Mandarin, sparking dynamic conversations on cultural translation.
- Distinguished Participation: Ambassador Shieh Syh-Wey actively participated throughout the two-day event, offering insightful and humorous commentary on each presentation.
Memorable Moments:
Despite the tight schedule limiting lunch breaks, participants enjoyed exquisite dinners on both evenings. On January 3, Representative to Austria, Mr. Liu Suan-yung (劉玄詠), hosted a dinner at the renowned Happy Buddha restaurant. The following evening, Vienna’s Mayor, Mr. Ludwig, sponsored a dinner, introduced by a member of the Austrian Parliament.
Author – Prof. Ann Heylen
