Taiwan's Evolving Humanitarian Space

Since the late 1990s, Taiwan has leveraged humanitarianism-both the world's and its own citizens' humanitarian impulse-in a variety of ways. Presenting itself at times as a victim of disasters and at times as a rescuer and aid provider, Taiwan seeks to assert its presence and role in the global arena through the expansion of its humanitarian space. This article looks at the ways in which Taiwan has pursued these goals. Over the same period, Taiwan's humanitarianism has evolved. While government support for, and involvement in, humanitarian action was long rhetorical, Taiwan's improved Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) capabilities and civilian-military coordination have implications for both regional security and U.S. policy towards Taiwan.