The Defining Divide: Cross-Strait Relations and US, Taiwan, China Strategic Dynamics

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Lee, Sheryn
Copyright Year	2011
Abstract	The recent improvements in cross-strait relations under the Ma administration have been interpreted as heralding a deeper rapprochement between Taiwan and China. Economic and political cross-strait initiatives have proliferated, while social linkages are re-emerging. Yet fundamental barriers remain that may lead to heightened future tensions. Taiwanese and Chinese citizens hold to increasingly distinct cultural and political identities. Strategically, support for the status quo is weakening between Washington, Taipei and Beijing, as the latter begins to threaten the regional primacy of the former. Since the election of President Ma Ying-Jeou in March 2008, attempts to expand economic and social linkages between the Republic of China (ROC) and the People‟s Republic of China (PRC) have reached a new high, symbolised by the June 2010 signing of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA). Yet despite the perceived thawing of political tensions between Beijing and Taipei, long-term structural dynamics suggest persistent barriers to sustained cross-strait rapprochement. Taiwanese and Chinese domestic perceptions differ greatly regarding the nature and terms of reunification. To this end, Taipei is increasingly wary as to the potential negative implications of closer economic ties that might make the island more dependent on the mainland. Finally, Washington‟s interests and support for reunification are weakening as it faces the geostrategic implications of increasing PRC military power. This analysis will proceed firstly with an overview of the past decade and a half of cross-strait relations between China, Taiwan and the United States. It then moves to examine the basis of recent improvements in relations between Taipei and Beijing. Ma‟s policy of maintaining the status quo (“the continued separation of two rival Chinese states” 1 ), the resumption of formal dialogue with the PRC for the first time in ten years, and the reopening of trade relations, have drawn broad-based domestic political approval. Furthermore, recent high-level efforts aimed at warming trilateral relations between Beijing, Taipei and Washington have emphasised political crossstrait cooperation as a means towards a future resolution over Taiwan‟s status.
Starting Page	79
Ending Page	89
Page Count	11
File Format	PDF HTM / HTML
Volume Number	7
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://www.regionalsecurity.org.au/Resources/Documents/vol7no1Lee.pdf
Language	English
Access Restriction	Open
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article