Welcome Messages

Dear Distinguished Guests:

On behalf of the Wenzao Ursuline International Conference on Southeast Asian Studies (ICSEAS), we, the faculty and students from the Department of Southeast Asian Studies, Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages, are pleased to welcome you to this event.

The world has been facing the severe challenge of the Covid-19 epidemic since late 2019. Countries have implemented strict quarantine regulations on border-crossing and city-lockdown to counter the pandemic. Thanks to the vaccine, societies are able to immunize their populations from severe Covid-19 attack. While we do not see the apparent end of this pandemic, the uneven distribution of vaccines has induced an old problem: the huge gap between rich and poor countries. It is witnessed that the latter cannot afford the high price of buying enough vaccines and they are still eager for donations from the richer countries and the WHO’s COVAX support. Nevertheless, the Covid-19 pandemic indeed has changed our mindsets and perspectives on how the world and society function.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, last year we were still able to hold a one-day “ICSEAS-Junior Research Forum” in person. We believe face-to-face communication is essential for sharing research interests and exchanging ideas between researchers. At the same time, we also recognize that the researchers need opportunities to publicly make known their findings. We at Wenzao, as a hub and platform for the Southeast Asia researchers, have organized this fifth consecutive ICSEAS conference in-person with online presentation.

We would like to thank our partner, the International Indonesia Forum(IIF), who has assisted in organizing panels on Indonesia. Thanks also go to the domestic and international scholars and, experts, whose research have continuously shed light on the geopolitics and challenges in contemporary Southeast Asia. I hope you will l enjoy the keynote speeches and insightful presentations on the pandemic, politics, economy, industry, human security, international relations, Indonesia Studies in the conference. The significant findings will initiate more constructive efforts for the region's sustainable development and well-being.

Finally, we wish everyone a fruitful and pleasant experience during the Wenzao ICSEAS and an enjoyable stay in Kaohsiung.

Yours sincerey,

Department of Southeast Asian Studies,

Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages, Taiwan