The “2026 Summer Peacebuilding Training,” jointly organized by the Northeast Asia Regional Peacebuilding Institute (NARPI), a South Korean NGO, and Tamkang University’s Department of Diplomacy and International Relations, was held for one week in mid-August on and around Tamkang University’s Tamsui Campus. Since NARPI began rotating its programs among Northeast Asian countries in 2011, this marked its return to northern Taiwan after a ten-year absence, following its 2016 visit to Jinshan and Taipei. This year’s program brought together nearly 60 peace practitioners, scholars, and young participants from South Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Taiwan, and other parts of the Asia-Pacific region. Through historical field visits and intensive coursework, participants explored a wide range of topics, including nonviolent conflict transformation, environmental peace education, and restorative justice.

Tamkang University has maintained longstanding ties with NARPI. As early as 2010, when NARPI was still in its preparatory stage, its organizing committee held an exchange meeting at the University. Associate Professor Chien-Fu Chen and Assistant Professor Yao-Nan Hung of the Department of Diplomacy and International Relations have also been involved in the organization’s core development and planning for many years. In addition, Associate Professor Mateus Lee, who coordinated this year’s program, and local organizers, including retired Jinshan High School teacher Ying-Mei Chiang, have long been committed to advancing peace studies and cross-cultural dialogue. These sustained efforts have made Tamkang University an important partner in linking non-governmental peace networks across Northeast Asia and in promoting public diplomacy.

At the opening ceremony on August 17, NARPI Executive Director Jae Young Lee reviewed the organization’s history and invited participants to read its mission statement together. He expressed the hope that people who have personally experienced war and military violence, as well as second- and third-generation members from different countries, could work together toward a shared dream: that no one should ever again have to experience the fear of war. He envisioned NARPI as a place where people can learn from one another, engage in dialogue, build networks, and acquire peacebuilding skills through a variety of approaches. Lee also expressed special appreciation to Tamkang University and the local organizing team for their strong support, which enabled participants to gather in Tamsui, a place with more than 400 years of diverse history, and work together toward the vision of regional peace.

Hsin-Chih Chen, Chair of Tamkang University’s Department of Diplomacy and International Relations, also delivered remarks at the opening ceremony, welcoming participants from different countries. She noted that the department’s academic mission has long focused on promoting international cooperation, preventing violent conflict, and pursuing world peace—goals that closely align with NARPI’s commitment to nonviolent action, mutual understanding, and lasting peace. She further observed that Northeast Asian countries today face complex geopolitical tensions and lingering historical trauma, making NARPI’s continued grassroots efforts particularly meaningful. She praised the organization for bringing together people across national borders and for sustaining its belief that peace can be learned and built.

The program began with three days of field study. Participants retraced George Leslie Mackay and visited the Taipei 228 Memorial Museum, the Ama Museum, the Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park, and the Chi Po-lin Museum. This was followed by five intensive days of core courses designed to help participants use education, dialogue, and practical skills to transform cultures of militarization and fear into just and sustainable peaceful societies. The professional courses covered topics including “Conflict and Peace Frameworks,” “Environmental Peace Education,” and “Narrative and Listening.” The program also brought together experts from Taiwan and scholars from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Australia for cross-national discussions on restorative justice, deepening participants’ understanding of practical experience across different fields.

One participant, Akiko Ishihara, Associate Professor at Kumamoto University in Japan, said she was impressed by Tamkang University’s beautiful campus and the thoughtful support provided in both facilities and services. She especially praised three student volunteers from the Diplomacy and International Relations Department, whose proficiency in both English and Japanese helped her complete her work efficiently and pleasantly. She also said that the friendliness of the people in Taiwan left a lasting impression on her.