ABSTRACT
This chapter examines Taiwan’s domestic dynamics and the implications for its foreign policy behaviour. It details the evolution of Taiwan’s domestic politics and shows how domestic political as well as sociocultural dynamics have influenced Taiwan’s foreign policy towards China, the United States and the rest of the world. It also explains why support for de facto independence has grown but also why reform, in some areas that are key to Taiwan’s long-term survival, has been slow. It analyses the constraints imposed by such domestic dynamics as well as the opportunities and prospects. Finally, it looks at the changing geopolitical environment since 2016 and how this has affected Taiwan’s ability to interact with the international community.
