ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a historical overview of Taiwan’s relationship with the great powers since 1949, i.e. the United States, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Japan and Europe, and assesses how well Taiwan has managed its uncertain status in the face of decreasing options and an increasingly hostile diplomatic and strategic environment. In particular, it focuses on Taiwan’s relations with the United States and the PRC. The reason for doing so is straightforward. Since the onset of the Cold War in Asia, the United States has played a crucial role in ensuring Taiwan’s survival while also helping to mould its political outlook. While Taiwan’s dependence on the United States has undeniably played a large part in setting the contours of its foreign policy, these were also shaped, to a significant extent, by Taipei’s fraught relationship with the PRC. Beijing’s relentless and merciless hostility towards Taiwan’s success in gaining international recognition as a separate political entity, has also been a defining factor in Taiwanese foreign policy.
