ABSTRACT
This chapter intends to stress the impact and implications of democratisation in Taiwan on cross-strait relations. The Chinese authorities have striven in their proposals to clearly separate domestic issues and international issues. While allowing Taiwan to maintain its own political system, they are adamant at not letting Taiwan become a sovereign political entity on the international arena. However, is such a dichotomy possible? The complex relationship between domestic political change in Taiwan and the issue of sovereignty suggests that there is no clear-cut answer. No democratisation process could have been initiated without a redefmition of the country's claim to sovereignty, even if it is just symbolic. Notwithstanding open stands in favour of independence, or even various manoeuvres to delay any type of reunification, implementing democracy in Taiwan cannot but lead to a redefinition of Taipei's foreign policy and the re-chartering of its relations with the Mainland. Besides, the fact that a democratic regime is accountable to the electorate cannot but bring new constraints to the government as far as cross-strait relations are concerned.
