ABSTRACT
Current relations across the Taiwan Strait can be characterized as “political
separ ation with economic integration”(Wu 1997: 154-169; Zhao 1999: 21-40).
According to recent public opinion surveys, approximately 60 percent of Tai-
wanese support the status quo in cross-Strait relations, and the fraction favoring
immediate unification is only 1-2 percent. In addition, the balance and counter-
balance among Taiwan, the United States, and the PRC also gives no party an
incentive to upset the current status quo (Goldstein and Schriver, 2001; Zagoria,
2003; Wu 2005). For the foresee able future, therefore, cross-Strait relations are
most likely to remain st able, no matter how Taiwanese domestic politics may
evolve – e.g., which party is in power.
