ABSTRACT
Beijing has tried to impose its definition on Taipei and on the international community through a combination of persuasion and coercion since 1949—with an increasing turn to hard approaches since Tsai became president. The soft elements in Beijing’s policy have been more limited. As Beijing has increased pressure, Taiwan has enjoyed increased support from the United States and other like-minded partners and allies as China’s pressure intensified. This trend was reinforced by China’s role in the COVID-19 pandemic and Taiwan’s impressive handling of the outbreak despite the impediments posed by Beijing’s early non-disclosure and the barriers it imposed to Taiwan’s engagement with international organizations. Under Tsai, Taiwan has focused on countering China’s growing threat while also assuring that it supports peace, stability, and continuity in cross-Strait relations. As Beijing increases its coercion of Taiwan, the challenges will become harder for the Tsai administration.
