At the beginning of the lecture, Ambassador Li offered a highly practical definition of a "diplomat": "A problem-solving practitioner." He poetically described his career as a drifting cloud, moving across Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Europe, constantly searching for answers to self-identity.
When discussing the art of diplomatic communication, he humorously shared an unwritten rule among diplomats:
When a diplomat says "Yes," they mean "Maybe"; when they say "Maybe," they mean "No"; and if a diplomat directly says "No," then they are no longer acting as a diplomat.
Sharing his practical experience, Vice Vice President Li generously revealed his original diplomatic philosophy termed "Lotus Dance and Butterfly Fragrance" (荷舞蝶香). This approach centers on the mindset of "Observe (瞧), Bridge (橋), and Flex (巧)" to successfully implement administrative innovation in European affairs.
He then guided the audience through his "Adventures in Washington," insightfully analyzing the global strategy of the current "Trump 2.0" era, characterized by "America First and Competing with China." He specifically emphasized that when facing complex international and public affairs, one must possess the sharp discernment to "hear the truest messages amidst the chaotic noise."
As the former Deputy Representative to the United States and Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, the Ambassador took the audience into his firsthand "Adventures in Washington." He recounted his experiences interacting with top officials from the "Trump 1.0" administration, such as Steve Bannon, and provided a forward-looking analysis of the global strategic and economic security layouts in the "Trump 2.0" era.
Ambassador Li astutely noted that Trump’s core philosophy revolves around "America First and Competing with China."
Economically: Shifting from Free Trade to Fair Trade based on reciprocal tariffs, forcing a restructuring of supply chains.
Security-wise: Adopting a comprehensive deterrence strategy of "Peace through Strength."
The Ambassador noted that amidst seemingly chaotic international diplomatic news and competing narratives, an exceptional public administration mind must have the insight to filter out the noise and hear the truth. This high-level analysis of the global geopolitical chessboard left the students thoroughly captivated.
In closing, Ambassador Li summarized his diplomatic and administrative experience with an inspiring motto:
"Those who walk will arrive; those who act will succeed." (Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well.) He reminded everyone that those who genuinely change the world are the ones willing to quietly roll up their sleeves and do the work.
This lecture not only broadened the international horizons of the EMPA students regarding foreign affairs but also gave them a profound understanding of the core meaning of "Beyond Diplomacy"—transforming the flexible, innovative, and cross-boundary coordination "practitioner spirit" of a diplomat into nourishment for innovation in public administration. The lecture concluded successfully with a commemorative group photo of the faculty, students, and Vice Vice President Li Guang-zhang.