The issue of Taiwan is the single most difficult factor in the relationship between China and the United States. Any cross-straits conflict between China and Taiwan is likely not only to pit the world’s two leading powers against each other, but also to suck in many other countries. This book provides a comprehensive analysis of other countries’ foreign policies towards Taiwan. It considers the position of the United States and key regional powers including Japan and South and North Korea, examines the attitude of Russia and other countries which support China on this issue, and discusses the surprising policies of some smaller countries, which have recognised Taiwan’s independence. The book also relates the overall picture to various international relations theories.
This book traces the development of Taiwan’s relations with its diplomatic partners and its policy towards the political opponents of its political opponent - mainland China. Paying particular attention to the powers that could exercise great influence in the future of East Asia, China-Taiwan Relations in a Global Context examines the main diplomatic strategies of Taiwan and its counterparts and the major problems for Taiwanese foreign relations. To date there is very little scholarship which examines the ‘Taiwan Issue’ outside of the triangular Beijing-Washington-Taipei framework, this book does exactly that. The contributors examine the development of Taiwan’s relationship with less prominent countries and governments, and attempt to ascertain how such examinations could give rise to new variables that help explain the strategy and purpose of Taiwan’s foreign policy, as well as the reaction and response of mainland China. This book provides readers with vital information about Taiwan’s foreign policymaking and introduces rarely told stories about Taiwan’s foreign relations. The research demonstrates the ceaseless and unyielding diplomatic efforts of the Taiwanese for survival in a shrunken international space and renders for readers a better understanding of the complexity of Taiwan’s relations with the rest of the world. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in Taiwan studies, Chinese politics, Cross-Strait relations and Asian foreign policy.
'The title of this book does not do it justice, for the book ranges far beyond Taiwan's diplomacy in Southeast Asia. The most authoritative book published to date on Taiwan's foreign policy (1949 to 2000), it covers Taiwan's foreign relations and diplomacy with Western developed states, the states of Africa and Latin America, Japan, the People's Republic of China, and the countries of Southeast Asia. Based on Chinese and English sources as well as personal interviews and correspondence, Chen Jie presents a wide-ranging, comprehensive view of Taiwan's efforts to gain greater international recognition. . . . Combining impressive scholarship with interesting analysis, Chen Jie presents new ways of understanding why Taiwan acts the way it does and sprinkles the explanations with wry humor. . . . All in all, a tour de force. Summing Up: Essential.' - S. Ogden, Choice Taiwan has become a significant player on the world stage in many areas and has developed a distinct international profile and influence. Its pro-active foreign policy firmly reminds the world of a new political entity's achievement, aspirations and unfulfilled ambitions. This pioneering book discusses Taiwan's pragmatic diplomacy as a way of seeking legitimacy, survival and development for a burgeoning nation-state, against the dynamic changes in domestic and international scenes and tumultuous relations with China.
This book traces the development of Taiwan’s relations with its diplomatic partners and its policy towards the political opponents of its political opponent - mainland China. Paying particular attention to the powers that could exercise great influence in the future of East Asia, China-Taiwan Relations in a Global Context examines the main diplomatic strategies of Taiwan and its counterparts and the major problems for Taiwanese foreign relations. To date there is very little scholarship which examines the ‘Taiwan Issue’ outside of the triangular Beijing-Washington-Taipei framework, this book does exactly that. The contributors examine the development of Taiwan’s relationship with less prominent countries and governments, and attempt to ascertain how such examinations could give rise to new variables that help explain the strategy and purpose of Taiwan’s foreign policy, as well as the reaction and response of mainland China. This book provides readers with vital information about Taiwan’s foreign policymaking and introduces rarely told stories about Taiwan’s foreign relations. The research demonstrates the ceaseless and unyielding diplomatic efforts of the Taiwanese for survival in a shrunken international space and renders for readers a better understanding of the complexity of Taiwan’s relations with the rest of the world. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in Taiwan studies, Chinese politics, Cross-Strait relations and Asian foreign policy.
Taiwan "is becoming the most dangerous flash point in the world for a possible war that involves the United States, China, and probably other major powers," warn Robert D. Blackwill, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Henry A. Kissinger senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy, and Philip Zelikow, University of Virginia White Burkett Miller professor of history. In a new Council Special Report, The United States, China, and Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War, the authors argue that the United States should change and clarify its strategy to prevent war over Taiwan. "The U.S. strategic objective regarding Taiwan should be to preserve its political and economic autonomy, its dynamism as a free society, and U.S.-allied deterrence-without triggering a Chinese attack on Taiwan." "We do not think it is politically or militarily realistic to count on a U.S. military defeat of various kinds of Chinese assaults on Taiwan, uncoordinated with allies. Nor is it realistic to presume that, after such a frustrating clash, the United States would or should simply escalate to some sort of wide-scale war against China with comprehensive blockades or strikes against targets on the Chinese mainland." "If U.S. campaign plans postulate such unrealistic scenarios," the authors add, "they will likely be rejected by an American president and by the U.S. Congress." But, they observe, "the resulting U.S. paralysis would not be the result of presidential weakness or timidity. It might arise because the most powerful country in the world did not have credible options prepared for the most dangerous military crisis looming in front of it." Proposing "a realistic strategic objective for Taiwan, and the associated policy prescriptions, to sustain the political balance that has kept the peace for the last fifty years," the authors urge the Joe Biden administration to affirm that it is not trying to change Taiwan's status; work with its allies, especially Japan, to prepare new plans that could challenge Chinese military moves against Taiwan and help Taiwan defend itself, yet put the burden of widening a war on China; and visibly plan, beforehand, for the disruption and mobilization that could follow a wider war, but without assuming that such a war would or should escalate to the Chinese, Japanese, or American homelands. "The horrendous global consequences of a war between the United States and China, most likely over Taiwan, should preoccupy the Biden team, beginning with the president," the authors conclude.
Following President Chen Sui-bian’s victory in the controversial 2004 presidential election, this book examines the future direction of Taiwan’s foreign policy, focusing on the internal and external forces that influence and shape the countries foreign policy decisions today. The author suggests that four levels of analysis – the international system, governmental structure, societal forces and individual factors – pose some explanatory value when seeking to understand Taipei’s foreign policy behaviour. Taiwan’s foreign policy decision-making remains an extremely complex process involving many important variables. However the author’s detailed analysis reveals that external factors, particularly seismic shifts in global politics and the role of China and the US have had an extraordinary degree of influence over the island’s foreign relations. This book highlights these factors as important considerations that continue to play a critical role in shaping Taiwan’s foreign policy. Providing a clear analysis of the dynamics of Taiwan’s foreign policy, Foreign Policy Making in Taiwan is an important addition to the literature on Taiwan and will be essential reading for followers of Chinese politics, comparative politics and foreign policy analysis.
The increased military power of China since the close of the Cold War has forced the United States to reconsider its security policy toward Taiwan. In this volume, Martin Lasater explores the many new factors that are now influencing U.S. calculations of one of its more enduring and important security interests in Asia. He considers such security concerns as the reduction of U.S. military forces in the western Pacific, a new arms race in the Taiwan Strait, Sino-American tensions over human rights and arms proliferation issues, increased calls for Taiwan's independence, the Clinton administration's concentration on domestic issues, and the shifting balance of power in the Asia Pacific—especially the PRC's growing influence. Considering the difficult issues President Clinton must weigh, Lasater provides a timely analysis of Taiwan's security in the 1990s within the broader context of Sino-American relations.
"Focuses on cross-Strait relations during Ma Ying-jeou's first term, assessing the impact of stabilization on economics, politics, and security and the implications for resolution of Taiwan and China's fundamental dispute. Examines how Taiwan can strengthen itself; how China can promote a mutually acceptable outcome; and how Washington can protect its interests in South Asia"--Provided by publisher.
