Kristina Kironska, Petr Janda, and Klára Schwarzová from the Department of Asian Studies attended the 23rd EATS Annual Conference at the University of Portsmouth in the UK. The conference, with the theme Echoes of Authority: Forty Years on from the Eve of the Lifting of Martial Law, took place on 1-3 April 2026.
The European Association of Taiwan Studies (EATS) holds annual conferences to provide a forum for scholars and researchers of Taiwan in Europe to meet, present their work, and learn about the latest developments in the field. The conferences feature a variety of panels on topics related to Taiwan, as well as opportunities for networking and collaboration.
The conference rotates among universities across Europe. While last year, in 2025, it took place at our university, Palacký University Olomouc, this year it was organized by the University of Portsmouth.
Kristina Kironska, who is also a board member of EATS, presented her new book Contemporary Taiwan: More than a Flashpoint in the book launch session and delivered her research paper titled “Looming Pessimism? Taiwanese Perceptions and Emotions of Cross-Strait Relations.”
Petr Janda presented “Education and Emancipation of Indigenous Peoples,” and Klára Schwarzová presented “Taiwan’s Navigating the Post-Communist Waters of Central Europe: The Case of Czechia.
