Cross-Taiwan Strait relations have moved from a period of peace, stability, and trust in 2008-2016 to a period of instability, mistrust, and mounting tension since 2016. President Ma Ying-jeou's Mainland China policy mitigated rivalry and hostility, but his alleged "pro-China" image gradually eroded his power base and popularity. President Tsai Ing-wen reversed President Ma's Mainland China policy, and with the help of Hong Kong's anti-extradition protest, President Tsai and the Democratic Progressive Party successfully built an image as the guardian of democracy and protector of Taiwan's identity and dignity. The talk will conclude with a discussion on the uncharted waters facing cross-strait relations that are full of deep hostility and undercurrents of mistrust against the backdrop of unpredictable developments in the U.S.-China relations.

Lo Chih-Chiang is a member of the Taipei City Council. In 2012-2013, he was the deputy secretary-general to then-Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou. In 2010-2011, he was the spokesperson of Taiwan's Presidential Office. He was also the deputy chief executive officer of Ma's re-election campaign in 2011-2012. He was a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School from 2015 to 2016.

The event hosted by the Center for International Strategy, Technology, and Policy (CISTP) in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the China Research Center in Architecture (East) 207 is free and open to the public. Parking is available in visitor lot 4.