The Third East Coast Cup National High School Debate Tournament, jointly organized by the Center for Indigenous International Affairs at National Dong Hwa University, the university's Speech and Debate Society, and the Office of Student Affairs' Extracurricular Activities Division, was successfully held on April 11-12, 2026, at Hualien County Huagang Junior High School.

As one of the few national debate tournaments hosted in eastern Taiwan, the event brought together outstanding student debaters from across the country while giving young people from Hualien and Taitung the rare opportunity to compete on their home ground. The tournament aims to strengthen debate culture in the east and encourage broader youth participation in public speaking, critical thinking, and civic dialogue.

Promoting Equity in Educational Opportunity

The East Coast Cup was founded in response to long-standing regional disparities in educational resources. For many years, students in eastern Taiwan interested in debate and academic competition were often required to travel long distances to western cities in order to participate in major tournaments.

Since its launch in 2024, the competition has sought to reverse that pattern by creating a high-level platform in eastern Taiwan-one where local students can engage directly with top competitors nationwide, while also welcoming students from western Taiwan to experience academic exchange across regions.

Beyond competition, the tournament also seeks to foster logical reasoning, public discourse, and deeper engagement with Indigenous issues and multicultural understanding.

Despite being located in a region with comparatively fewer resources, National Dong Hwa University's Speech and Debate Society has achieved remarkable national success in recent years, including runner-up honors at the 5^th Qiongli Cup, championships at the 10^th and 11^th CDPA Debate Championships, and a top-four finish at the 67^th Elite Cup. These achievements reflect the team's pursuit of excellence and provided a strong foundation for hosting this year's tournament.

Debate as a Platform for Indigenous Dialogue

More than a competition, the East Coast Cup has become a forum for exploring identity, culture, and public policy through debate. Each year's motion focuses on contemporary Indigenous issues and encourages students to think critically about social justice and cultural sustainability.

Previous themes included the balance between cultural preservation and innovation, and whether the staging of Indigenous tourism benefits or harms Indigenous culture.

This year's motion examined whether Indigenous student admission preference policies bring more benefits than disadvantages to Indigenous culture, prompting deep discussion on education systems, equity, and community rights.

Professor Bavaragh Dagalomai（Jolan HSIEH）, faculty advisor to the debate society, noted:

"The East Coast Cup is more than a tournament-it is a bridge between communities. Our students took the initiative to apply for funding and organize the event, allowing young people to challenge stereotypes through reasoned argument while developing empathy and responsibility toward Indigenous cultures. This is an important step for debate education in eastern Taiwan and helps bring Indigenous issues into mainstream public discussion."

Competition Highlights and Winners

This year's tournament attracted more than 100 high school debaters, including many students from Hualien and Taitung. Matches followed the New Oregon 4-4-4 format, with 4.5 minutes each for constructive speeches, cross-examination, and rebuttals, testing both strategic thinking and quick response skills.

In the championship round, the affirmative team Changchun Little Bears argued that admission preference policies create pathways for Indigenous students to access higher education and cultivate future leaders who can give back to their communities.

The negative team Sankuaicuo High School - Wu Lükuan Please Buy Drinks countered that Indigenous students risk cultural alienation within Han-centered educational structures, citing international examples including Indigenous universities in Aoterora New Zealand. Their strong case earned them the championship title.

The Best Speaker Award went to CHEN Bing-An of Kaohsiung High School.

The special "Star of the Rift Valley" Award, recognizing outstanding Indigenous debaters, was presented to LAI You-Chen of Minglun High School-an honor celebrating not only individual excellence, but also the courage of Indigenous youth to make their voices heard.

Looking Ahead

As the two-day tournament came to a close, the exchange of ideas and spirited debate left a lasting impact. The East Coast Cup continues to plant the seeds of inclusion, civic literacy, and cross-cultural understanding in the next generation.

The organizers expressed gratitude for financial support from the Council of Indigenous Peoples, Hualien County Government and Youth Development Center, and Youth Development Administration of the Ministry of Education, among others.