Peace through Strength: Diplomacy with Taiwan's U.S. Representative Alexander Yui

Join hosts Maddie Feldman and Fletcher Kaneb as they sit down with Alexander Yui, Taiwan’s representative to the United States. 

The conversation begins with Representative Yui’s multi-national upbringing as the son of a diplomat, his relationship to Taiwanese national identity, his decision to pursue Spanish in college and grad school, and his military experience in high school JROTC and later in the Taiwanese military. 

Drawing on decades of diplomatic service and a rich understanding of Taiwan’s history as it informs the contemporary pursuit of peace and stability, Representative Yui reflects on the importance of cultivating “friendships” and sustaining Taiwan’s international partnerships—including its longstanding diplomatic ties with Paraguay, where he served as Taiwan’s Ambassador from 2015 to 2018. He discusses his mantra of ‘honor, duty, country’—there is “no higher honor than to serve your country”—that have guided his career, as well as the challenges of strengthening Taiwan’s defensive readiness and societal resilience while preserving the cross-strait status quo. 

This interview is part of the Policy Punchline podcast series. Supported by Princeton’s Julis-Rabinowitz Center for Public Policy and Finance, the series aims to foster dialogue on critical public-policy issues, connecting listeners with leading experts from around the world.

Alexander Yui