Marking its 10th anniversary since its inaugural forum in 2017, this year's forum explored changes in the international order and pathways toward peace and cooperation in Northeast Asia. Discussions focused on the structural transformation of the postwar international order, power competition and security dilemmas in East Asia, and the prospects for trilateral cooperation among South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.

Session 1, titled ‘Structural Transformations of the Post-WWII International Order’, featured a presentation by Professor Vesselin Popovski of Soka University, followed by discussions from Professor Chao Chien-Min of Chinese Culture University and Visiting Professor Young Joon Choi of IFES. Professor Popovski argued that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine constitutes a serious challenge to the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter. He also emphasized the need to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable and called for reform of the United Nations Security Council. While the discussants shared his view on the importance of international norms and international law, they noted that the current crisis facing the international order should be understood as a broader and more complex structural phenomenon.

Session 2 focused on the theme ‘Dynamics of Power Rivalries and Security Dilemmas in East Asia’. The session opened with a presentation by Professor Ou-Yang Hsin-Yi of Chinese Culture University, followed by discussions from Professor Byong-Chul Lee of IFES and Professor Jonathan Lockhurst of Soka University. Professor Ou-Yang argued that Taiwan's strategic importance has grown significantly due to its leading role in the semiconductor industry and other advanced technologies. He noted that amid intensifying U.S.-China strategic competition and the emergence of the AI era, Taiwan occupies a pivotal position within global supply chains and international technology cooperation networks. The discussants subsequently examined the importance of supply chain resilience, economic security, and the development of regional cooperative frameworks.

Session 3 explored the theme ‘Prospects for Trilateral Cooperation: Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan’. The session featured a presentation by Professor Eul-Chul Lim of IFES, followed by discussions by Professor Chen Chung-Hsing of Chinese Culture University and Professor Ulv Hanssen of Soka University. Professor Lim highlighted the need for closer cooperation among South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan in response to the evolving international order, intensifying U.S.-China strategic competition, and growing challenges related to economic security and technological rivalry. He particularly emphasized the potential for collaboration in emerging security domains, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), supply chains, and energy security.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Peace Forum reaffirmed its role as a platform for academic exchange among South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan aimed at promoting peace and cooperation in Northeast Asia. The forum was also regarded as a meaningful occasion for exploring opportunities to expand future collaborative research and academic cooperation.