CONTACT: Steve Barcus, sbarcus@wisc.edu

MADISON—The University of Wisconsin–Madison will host a talk by Bi-Khim Hsiao,
representative of the Republic of China, Taiwan. The lecture, “America, Taiwan and Peace in the Indo-Pacific,” will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Thurs., Sept. 30 at the UW Law School, room 2260.

In the lecture, Hsiao will address Taiwan as a young and vibrant democracy, as well as a
frontline democracy under constant threat. Furthermore, she will offer insights into how
Taiwan and the U.S. work together, and note the importance of peace in the Taiwan Straits as a matter of international concern.

Hsiao, a former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator in Taiwan, has been one of the most vocal supporters for gay rights within Taiwan’s political arena, authoring a well-publicized proposal to legalize same-sex marriage in the territory in 2006. She was sworn in as the new envoy to the U.S. in July 2020. Hsiao is the first woman to hold this role. Her bicultural and bilingual identity is unprecedented for someone in this position. Born to a Taiwanese father and American mother, Hsiao lived in Taiwan through junior high school then came to the U.S. for senior high. She completed her bachelor’s from Oberlin College and master’s from Columbia University.

The event at UW–Madison by Hsiao and the delegation from Taiwan is planned alongside visits with Wisconsin government and business leaders in an effort to strengthen ties and relations between Taiwan and the state of Wisconsin.

The lecture is sponsored by the East Asian Legal Studies Center, Center for East Asian Studies, Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs, Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership, WisPolitics.com, Wisconsin China Initiative, and the Student Association of Taiwan.

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