Taiwan’s China Dilemma : Contested Identities and Multiple Interests in Taiwan’s Cross-Strait Economic Policy

China and Taiwan share one of the world's most complex international relationships. Although similar cultures and economic interests promoted an explosion of economic ties between them since the late 1980s, these ties have not led to an improved political relationship, let alone progress toward the unification that both governments once claimed to seek. In addition, Taiwan's recent Sunflower Movement succeeded in obstructing deeper economic ties with China. Why has Taiwan's policy toward China been so inconsistent? __Taiwan's China Dilemma__ explains the divergence between the development of economic and political relations across the Taiwan Strait through the interplay of national identity and economic interests. Using primary sources, opinion surveys, and interviews with Taiwanese opinion leaders, Syaru Shirley Lin paints a vivid picture of one of the most unsettled and dangerous relationships in the contemporary world, and illustrates the growing backlash against economic liberalization and regional economic integration around the world. “Examines the complicated, dynamic relations between these two regions [and] offers a new perspective to understand the root cause of the dilemma.” — China Review China and Taiwan share one of the world’s most complex international relationships. Although similar cultures and economic interests promoted an explosion of economic ties between them since the late 1980s, these ties have not led to an improved political relationship, let alone progress toward the unification that both governments once claimed to seek. In addition, Taiwan’s recent Sunflower Movement succeeded in obstructing deeper economic ties with China. Why has Taiwan’s policy toward China been so inconsistent? Taiwan’s China Dilemma explains the divergence between the development of economic and political relations across the Taiwan Strait through the interplay of national identity and economic interests. Using primary sources, opinion surveys, and interviews with Taiwanese opinion leaders, Syaru Shirley Lin paints a vivid picture of one of the most unsettled and dangerous relationships in the contemporary world, and illustrates the growing backlash against economic liberalization and regional economic integration around the world. “Lin creatively frames the issue...investigating how Taiwan struggles to manage globalization without Sinification.” — Political Science Quarterly Although Similar Cultures And Economic Interests Promoted An Explosion Of Economic Ties Between Taiwan And China Since The Late 1980s, These Ties Have Not Improved Their Political Relationship, Let Alone Brought About The Unification That Both Governments Once Claimed To Seek. Recently Taiwan's Sunflower Movement Successfully Delayed Further Expansion Of Trade With China. Why Is Taiwan's Policy Toward China So Inconsistent? Through Research And Interviews With Taiwanese Opinion Leaders, Author Syaru Shirley Lin Paints A Vivid Picture Of One Of The Most Dangerous Relationships In The Contemporary World, And Illustrates The Growing Backlash Against Economic Liberalization Throughout The World. Conceptual Framework -- No Haste : The 1996 National Development Conference -- Active Opening, Effective Management : The 2001 Economic Development Advisory Conference -- Active Management, Effective Opening : The 2006 Conference On Sustaining Taiwan's Economic Development -- Prosper Again : The 2008/10 Campaign For The Ecfa. Syaru Shirley Lin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents 8 Interviews 10 Abbreviations 14 Acknowledgments 18 Preface 20 1. Introduction 24 2. Conceptual Framework 41 3. No Haste: The 1996 National Development Conference 76 4. Active Opening, Effective Management: The 2001 Economic Development Advisory Conference 113 5. Active Management, Effective Opening: The 2006 Conference on Sustaining Taiwan’s Economic Development 149 6. “Prosper Again”: The 2008–2010 Campaign for the ECFA 185 7. Conclusions 229 Appendix: Sources Related to Public Opinion Surveys and Polls on Taiwan 250 Notes 252 References 264 Index 282