The Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies (GIIASS) hosted a forum last Saturday, February 26th to commemorate the late professor, Niu Hsien-chung of TKU. The forum, that was to discuss his pioneering and founding of Taiwan’s strategic studies, invited several eminent scholars in this field. Dr. Flora Chang, TKU president and Tsai Ming Shan , a former minister of the Ministry of National Defense delivered the opening speeches. Both of them admitted to be greatly influenced by professor Niu.

Professor Niu, who taught at Tamkang University for over three decades and passed away last year at the age of 92, had graduated from the currently known Nanjing University before Communist Party took over China. He was extremely productive in his life time—copious original works and translations that deal with themes about First and Second World Wars, and comparative Chinese and Western strategic thought. He had taught numerous students who even came to his bedside when he was lying sick at home for advice and enlightenments. This forum was a humble way of paying tribute to a great thinker and the heritage he left behind.

The first topic, “Pioneer in Strategic Studies, the Professor Niu I Knew”, at the forum was given by Professor Lee Tze-ye of the GIIASS , a good friend of Professor Niu. He confirmed the outstanding contribution of Professor Niu by stating that he was not only the ‘founder’ of such studies but also its innovator over the years. His prowess and drive for breakthroughs in his research and teaching were unprecedented; the book, New Theory on Chinese Strategic Thought, that was finished when he was 91, is a case in point. These qualities made him a truly brilliant pioneer in Taiwan’s strategic studies.

The forum addressed the following three themes, namely the formation, innovations and applications of Taiwan’s strategic thought. The scholars that attended this occasion included the Dean of the College of International Studies, Tai Wan-chin and most of the faulty members of the GIIASS. The round-table panel discussion at the end of the program invited General Liu Da-chai, Professors Hsu Chih-wei, Cheng Fu-sheng and Lin Yu-fan as discussants. (Ying-hsueh Hu )