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By Vanessa Aurelia Yotania
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Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy is often discussed in strategic or geopolitical terms, but its impact can be felt most clearly in the experiences of students who come to study here.
Introduced in 2016 under former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), the New Southbound Policy aims to deepen Taiwan’s engagement with countries in South and Southeast Asia, as well as Australia and New Zealand. The initiative reflects Taiwan’s efforts to diversify its international partnerships when its diplomatic space remains constrained. By improving ties with countries to the south, Taiwan seeks not only to expand economic cooperation, but also to reduce overdependence on China. While economic collaboration is an important pillar, the policy also emphasizes people-to-people engagement. Among these efforts, talent exchange has emerged as one of its most influential components.
The New Southbound Elite Study Program brings students from Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Thailand and other countries to Taiwanese universities. When I arrived in Taiwan as a participant in the program, I expected to learn about the nation mainly through lectures and readings. Instead, my most meaningful lessons came from everyday conversations with professors, classmates and friends.
Experiencing Taiwan’s open political discussion, free media and active civil society firsthand offered a perspective that differs from the centralized political environments many students in the region are familiar with. These experiences deepened my understanding of Taiwan’s political identity and the importance of its engagement with the international community.
Learning about Taiwan happens not only through lectures on history and politics, but also through the small details of daily life. Tasting bubble tea in its place of origin, interacting with locals at night markets and discovering how ubiquitous convenience stores are across the nation, offer insights into Taiwanese society. Through these moments, the country feels less like a distant geopolitical subject and more like a place understood through lived experience.
These experiences reveal a dimension of the New Southbound Policy that is often overlooked: its ability to build genuine connections between people.
Taiwan has become a meeting point for students from across the region, building friendships and professional networks that might not have developed otherwise. The New Southbound Policy deepens Taiwan’s engagement with Southeast Asia while positioning the country as a hub for regional interaction.
With these valuable connections, the program should focus on maintaining theses relationships. Many participants return to their home countries after completing their studies, but the connections built in Taiwan should not end there. Stronger alumni networks, professional collaborations and continued engagement with Taiwanese institutions could help ensure that these relationships remain active. By staying connected with former participants, Taiwan can turn these educational exchanges into lasting bridges between Taiwan and Southeast Asia.
For students like me, studying in Taiwan offers a deeper understanding of its society, democracy and international challenges. Over time, these experiences can help build networks of familiarity and trust across the region. The New Southbound Policy is not only about expanding partnerships, but also about shaping how Taiwan is understood by the next generation across Southeast Asia.
Vanessa Aurelia Yotania is an Indonesian recipient of last year’s New Southbound Policy Elite Study Program from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at National Quemoy University.
