ABSTRACT

In the mid 1980s, the interchanges between Taiwan and mainland China were so few and far between that even the term “cross-strait relations” did not exist. Yet, following 20 years of rapid and major changes, cross-strait relations have become the only issue that could set the world’s strongest nation (the US) and the world’s most populous nation (the PRC) on a collision course. To gain a deep understanding of this issue, however, one must go beyond Taiwan and mainland China, and include the US in the picture to form a triangle. There are hence altogether six variables – the three corners and the three sides of the triangular relationship. The three corners are internal factors in the US, the PRC, and Taiwan. The three sides signify cross-strait relations and US relations with each side of the Taiwan Strait. Among them, the cross-strait relationship is the one which, more often than not, is driven by other variables nearly simultaneously. A comprehensive and accurate understanding of these six variables is no easy matter. Even more difficult, the speed at which these variables change inside and among themselves is so fast that it is extremely difficult for any researcher to stay abreast with them. This book represents merely a humble attempt to look into the triangle to better comprehend the “what” and “why” of the crossstrait relations.