Northernization for Breaking‐through International Isolation: Taiwan’s Trilateral Aid Cooperation in the Middle East Refugee Crisis and beyond

Motivation Taiwan, a de facto independent state, previously preferred bilateral aid focused on its diplomatic partners in response to China’s efforts to isolate the country internationally. More recently, Taiwan has been active in trilateral aid co‐operation with many international agencies supporting work in camps for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities in the Middle East and beyond. Purpose The article analyses how and under what circumstances Taiwan’s South–North–South (SNS) co‐operation functions, which differs from the conventional trilateral North–South–South (NSS) model. We argue that Taiwan’s trilateral aid is a desire for “Northernization” in the global aid hierarchy in order to break through its political isolation. Methods and approach The research included the collection of government documents and media reports as well as field research and off‐the‐record interviews in Jordan and Taiwan. We visited Jordan for a month each in 2018 and 2019. Findings Taiwan’s top three partners in trilateral aid co‐operation are the United States (US) and related organizations, the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Holy See. Focusing on such co‐operation in the Middle East we analyse the consequences and impacts in three dimensions: following Northern norms in aid practices; diversifying aid resources to involve business and non‐governmental sectors; and scaling up Taiwan–US regional and global relations. The article casts new light on the complex development geography beyond the conventional North–South axes. Policy implications The case of Taiwan illustrates the need to question the conventional division between the Global North and Global South. It is also time for the former to include Taiwan as a reliable partner and to use its example to encourage other politically isolated countries and regions to play more important roles as responsible global stakeholders.