Recent Political Developments in Taiwan: Facing Beijing and Washington

Year 2012, Volume: 17 Issue: 4, 79 - 103, 01.01.2012

Wan-chin Taı

Abstract

In 2012, political developments in Taiwan were somewhat different from what observers predicted at the beginning of the year. The ruling party is now weaker than what it appeared earlier. The United States and mainland China are the two most crucial factors which will determine the future of Taiwan, and at the moment the US’s influence on the political landscape and political orientation in Taiwan is, in general, larger than that of mainland China. This chapter will discuss the major issues in current cross-strait relations and analyse Taiwan’s relations with the United States, China and Japan

Keywords

Future of Taiwan, Cross-strait Relations, US Policy towards Taiwan.

References

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• Winston Dang, “China and US Cannot Co-manage Taiwan”, Taipei Times, 5 February 2012.
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• The TPP is interpreted by some international observers as an instrument by which the United States intends to bolster its geostrategic interests in the Asia- Pacific region.
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