The upcoming 22nd Annual Conference of the European Association of Taiwan Studies (EATS) will take place from 20 to 22 June 2025 at Palacky University Olomouc, Czechia. The conference typically rotates among various European cities and universities, with recent editions being held in Vienna in 2024, London in 2023, and Cyprus in 2022. This will be the third time the annual conference is hosted in the Czech Republic – following gatherings in Prague in 2008 and 2016 – but the first time in Olomouc.
Olomouc is a historic city in the heart of Moravia, renowned for its rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture, and vibrant academic community. With its picturesque squares, UNESCO-listed Holy Trinity Column, and lively arts scene, Olomouc offers a charming and inspiring setting for intellectual exchange – perfect for hosting conferences like this one. This year, the conference aims to welcome approximately 100 speakers, making it the largest EATS conference to date.
The conference will be organised by the Department of Asian Studies – the largest in Czechia in both faculty and student numbers – which has a longstanding collaboration with various Taiwanese universities. Since 2022, it has hosted a “Taiwan Corner” on its premises, welcoming Taiwanese academics and offering students access to a dedicated library and extensive information resources. The organising team comprises scholars actively involved in the EUVIP project, The EU in the Volatile Indo-Pacific Region (learn more at euvip-project.com). This Horizon Europe-funded initiative, running from 2023 to 2025, examines the Indo-Pacific region’s strategic, political, and economic significance for Europe.
Aligned with the EUVIP theme, the EATS 2025 conference will centre on “Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific”. Over the past decade, the Indo-Pacific has emerged as a geopolitical and geo-economic focal point, and Taiwan, positioned at East Asia’s crossroads, plays a critical role within this vast region. Against the backdrop of Sino–US rivalry and rising security challenges, the pursuit of a rules-based order resonates strongly with the principles of multilateralism and cooperation between regional players. Democratic nations in both the West and the Indo-Pacific recognise Taiwan as a like-minded partner, albeit with varying levels of political, economic, and security collaboration. Taiwan’s role in the socio-economic development of the Indo-Pacific and its thriving innovation landscape further underscore its significance. This conference will provide the opportunity to explore the complexities of Taiwan’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific and gain insights into the region’s contemporary dynamics. Preceding the conference, a summer school on the same theme will be offered for advanced Master’s and PhD students.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Professor Julie Yu-Wen Chen, a Tainan-born Finn who is a Professor of Chinese Studies in the Department of Cultures at the University of Helsinki and is also a member of the EUVIP consortium. With a background in political science and a specialisation in International Relations and China studies, Professor Chen adopts an interdisciplinary approach to studying China’s relations with the Indo-Pacific and the post-Soviet sphere.
In her keynote address, Professor Chen will examine how the production of knowledge about China and Taiwan intersects with realpolitik. She will explore Taiwan’s unique role as a hub for China-watching and the development of Taiwan studies, its links to Chinese studies and Sinology, and the integration of Taiwan studies into the broader Indo-Pacific discourse. Addressing questions of decolonisation within Taiwan’s international relations and knowledge production, Professor Chen will provoke debate on Taiwan’s challenge in moving beyond the One China discourse, and whether Taiwan can further decolonise its relationships with Japan and the US. Can geopolitical interests overshadow the need for decolonisation?
The keynote and the conference as a whole aim to stimulate critical discussion and offer fresh perspectives on pressing issues, with a particular focus on Taiwan’s strategic importance in today’s shifting geopolitical landscape.
With its robust programme and diverse array of speakers, the EATS 2025 conference promises to be a pivotal gathering for those seeking to deepen their understanding of Taiwan’s role in the Indo-Pacific and its implications for global affairs.
Contributor Bio
KRISTINA KIRONSKA is a socially engaged interdisciplinary academic, with experience in election observation, research, and advocacy. She spent many years living in Taiwan, including lecturing at the University of Taipei. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at the Palacky University in Olomouc, coordinating the EU-funded project The EU in the volatile Indo-Pacific Region (EUVIP).
At the same time, she is also the Co-Director at the think-tank Central European Institute of Asian Studies, and a Board Member of the European Association of Taiwan Studies (EATS). In her research she focuses on East and Southeast Asia, international relations, and human rights.