ABSTRACT
Official People's Republic of China (PRC) statements of policy toward Taiwan are readily available and much discussed. PRC research about Taiwan is less accessible and little mentioned. Some of this research, particularly some research from Beijing, largely serves policy purposes. Other research, particularly some from Fujian, performs the complementary function of establishing historical-cultural background and exploring alternative interpretations. Both of these strands are important, the "official" one for illuminating the thinking behind current policy, the "alternative" one for providing the basis for future policy change. This paper, based both on extensive reading of PRC publications and on extended conversations with PRC researchers, surveys PRC Taiwan scholarship to define its scope and themes. 1
