From 22–24 February 2004, the IISS co-sponsored with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) a conference at Arundel House entitled ‘Cross- Strait Challenges and Third Party Engagement’. This private event, organised on the IISS side by Senior Fellow for East Asian Security Adam Ward, brought together about 50 officials, diplomats and experts from Taiwan, the United States and Europe.
Held less than a month before Taiwan's presidential election, the event provided an opportunity to anticipate how the poll was likely to affect cross-Strait relations and the role that third parties such as the US and Europe might play in the dispute. There was spirited debate about President Chen Shui-bian’s plans for an ultimately unsuccessful defensive referendum on the military threat posed by China to Taiwan. Exchanges among European and American participants about proposals to lift the European Union arms ban against China were also lively.
The Taiwanese delegation was headed by Lin Chong-pin, Deputy Minister of Defence, and included Antonio Chiang, Deputy Secretary General at the National Security Council. The CSIS was represented by Senior Vice President Kurt Campbell, Senior Fellow Derek Mitchell, Senior Associate Bonnie Glaser and Fellow Carola McGiffert.
