After more than three years of lockdowns and isolation, the world is gradually freeing itself from the shackles of COVID-19. The long-frozen global economy is also slowly thawing, and   the general public has rekindled hope for a return to normal life. However, even as the pandemic recedes, global tensions continue to escalate.

In February 2022, Russia invaded eastern Ukraine and triggered one of its most significant confrontations with the West since the Cold War. In the following two years, the global economy incurred losses of up to NT$86 trillion, with casualties reaching 500,000 and over 6 million Ukrainians being displaced. In October 2023, another major conflict broke out in the Middle East as Israel and Hamas clashed in the Gaza Strip in what has now become the largest conflict    in the region in 50 years. Both of these wars have not only stirred up global geopolitical turmoil but also caused immense humanitarian crises. Many countries and international non- governmental organizations have already pledged assistance to aid refugees and alleviate famine and medical shortages. In 2023, The United Nations appealed for approximately US$56.7 billion in humanitarian aid funding from countries worldwide. However, only 35% of that amount was actually received, marking one of the most severe funding shortfalls for humanitarian aid in years.

This shortfall aggravates an already precarious situation. Global foreign aid funding has long been in short supply, with few countries reaching the UN-recommended target of official development assistance reaching 0.7% of gross national income. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting global economic turmoil caused many countries to cut back on aid funding and redirect budgets to domestic assistance. Although the post-pandemic global economy is starting to rebound, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, along with the potential for rising oil prices, could pose further challenges to economic recovery. In the midst of these hardships, the willingness of countries to invest in foreign aid funding remains to be seen and warrants close observation.

The ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas have further increased the already tight demand for global humanitarian aid. Whether this will crowd out aid allowances for other countries or causes is another important focus for observation and exploration.

To shed light on these questions, this issue adopts the theme of International Aid in the Context of Escalating Global Conflicts. It delves into several topics from the perspective of today’s conflict-ridden geopolitical landscape, including foreign aid allocation, the specific impact of the Israel-Hamas War on humanitarian aid, the strategic layout of foreign aid in the Asia-Pacific region, and Taiwan’s future foreign aid policy response in the face of global changes.

The topic of this issue’s special report is Taiwan’s Strategies and Actions in the Context of Global Regional Conflicts. We interviewed Dean Hung-Yi Lien from the College of International Affairs at National Chengchi University and President Shao-Ling Lee from World Vision Taiwan, who shared their respective expertise in the academic and practical complexities of the current world. More specifically, they analyzed the current global situation in the context of regional conflicts and then shared pragmatic actions NGOs can take to address global needs. We also invited Ambassador Dr. Charles C. Li, Secretary General of the TaiwanICDF, to share the strategies and methods adopted by his organization in response to the ongoing conflicts.

The tapestry of human history is intertwined with countless wars and conflicts. Now, we are facing threats unlike any previously imagined as the climate crisis intensifies and brings about epidemics and food shortages. These changes are poised to become the root cause of future struggles, underscoring a problematic future for global foreign aid. Therefore, we hope that this issue provides readers with a firm understanding of how proliferating regional conflicts impact   aid so that they can adjust their policies for an emerging global reality. At the same time, we  hope these discussions help spur Taiwan’s international aid efforts into a new direction that best addresses pragmatic needs.

 

Summaries

The Necessity of Redistributing Aid in Times of Conflict
(Yi-Wen Su, Analyst at the Taiwan WTO and RTA Center)

In recent years, humanitarian aid has surged in step with a series of major global incidents, chief among them being the Russia-Ukraine War. The international community has answered this call and now supports Ukraine through multilateral coordination, bilateral support, private-sector investment, and other means. However, this refocus has led to a redistribution of international aid resources and a transformation in official development assistance (ODA), which will undoubtedly impact the allocation of global aid funds. OECD research shows that there is still hope for some countries to achieve the target of ODA reaching 0.7% of gross national income (GNI), but insufficient aid funding has increased the importance of private sector investments and growing humanitarian aid demand has added complexity to climate change action.

Given this context, what role should Taiwan play in the emerging development aid landscape? This article starts with Taiwan’s future direction in promoting foreign aid, elucidating the changes in the allocation of international aid resources amid recent global conflicts, and later proposes suggestions for Taiwan to complement international funding shortages.

 

International Aid in a Competitive Region: A Case Study of Pacific Island Countries
（Paul A. Huang, Associate Research Fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research)

The United States started the Pivot to Asia in 2012, which saw the nation shifting its global security strategy from the Middle East to Asia in a bid to counter China’s expansion. However, since taking office in 2013, Xi Jinping has pursued a policy China calls Major Country Diplomacy, which includes the Belt and Road Initiative and international aid in the Pacific Region. Under this policy, China seeks to expand its regional influence and challenge the post-World War II Pacific security order built by the United States. This caused the United States to adopt the Indo-Pacific Strategy in 2017 in an effort to rebalance its regional policies and unite like-minded allies to counterbalance China.

Pacific Island Countries (PICs) have become a strategic battleground in the US-China struggle for influence. Australia, as a traditional ally of the United States, has adjusted its international aid policy to assist in the political and economic development of the Pacific region while cooperating with the United States to counter the threat posed by China. Taiwan is another important partner in the US Indo-Pacific Strategy, and its aid to PICs also deserves attention in this context.

The Humanitarian Aid Crisis in the Israel-Hamas Conflict
（Shun-Wen Wang, Professor in the Department of Political Science, Chinese Culture University）

On October 7, 2023, Hamas’s attack on Israel sparked a series of humanitarian aid controversies. These included disputes over humanitarian ceasefires as well as several acute crises, such as threats to life, food shortages, medical and health challenges, and a severe lack      of infrastructure and essential supplies. The Israel-Hamas Conflict now serves as an evolving litmus test for observing the role of the United Nations and whether the “responsibility to protect” principle can be sustained. Taiwan has been an effective partner in providing humanitarian aid,    so it seems possible to continue cooperating with neighboring countries and international non-governmental organizations on the existing foundation to assist in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, thereby increasing Taiwan’s international exposure.

International Development Assistance and Taiwan: Global Trends, Recent Developments, and Future Challenges
（Shiuh-Shen Chien, Distinguished Professor at the Department of Geography, National Taiwan University; Yi-Chen Wu, Doctor, International Degree Program in Climate Change and Sustainable Development, National Taiwan University）

This article introduces two trends in recent international development aid. First, it addresses the transformation from traditional North-South aid to triangular North-South-South partnerships, with a focus on OECD-DAC aid principles. Second, it discusses an international development perspective based on UN human rights advocacy, reflecting on the roles of states and the partnership between governments and civil society in foreign aid. The article also analyzes Taiwan’s  recent transition from a diplomatic recognition-oriented foreign aid approach  to a development-oriented approach within this framework. It highlights the achievements and shortcomings of this transition, including the need for increased official budgets, expanded thinking, the institutionalization of interagency cooperation, and the establishment of mechanisms for cultivating international development talent more effectively.

• 更新日期: 2024/03/28
• 點閱次數:381