The Future of United States, China, and Taiwan Relations

Relations across the Taiwan Strait were unstable for decades before May 2008. Several acknowledged "crises" raised the possibility of war between China and the United States and/or Taiwan and at times political disputes wracked the United States-Taiwan relationship. Nevertheless, the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) of 1979 helped maintain peace by deterring coercive actions by China against the island "The Earth's human population is expected to pass eight billion by the year 2025, while rapid growth in the global economy will spur ever increasing demands for natural resources. The world will consequently face growing scarcities of such vital renewable resources as cropland, fresh water, and forests. Thomas Homer-Dixon argues in this sobering book that these environmental scarcities will have profound social consequences - contributing to insurrections, ethnic clashes, urban unrest, and other forms of civil violence, especially in the developing world." "Homer-Dixon is careful to point out that the effects of environmental scarcity are indirect and act in combination with other social, political, and economic stresses. He also acknowledges that human ingenuity can reduce the likelihood of conflict, particularly in countries with efficient markets, capable states, and an educated populace. But he argues that the violent consequences of scarcity should not be underestimated - especially when about half the world's population depends directly on local renewables for their day-to-day well-being."--Jacket Front Matter....Pages i-xix Introduction....Pages 1-12 Taiwan’s Political Development and U.S.-China Relations....Pages 13-28 The “ASL” as the “Anti-TRA”: The Impact of China’s Anti-Secession Law on U.S. Relations with Taiwan....Pages 29-52 The TRA, Cross-Strait Relations, and Sino-U.S. Relations: Searching for Cross-Strait Stability....Pages 53-69 A Status Quo with Different Interpretations: Taiwan, China, the United States, and Security in the Taiwan Strait....Pages 71-100 Lobbying for a “U.S.-Taiwan FTA” in the U.S. Congress: Which “Fast Track”? What Target?....Pages 101-120 The United States as a Balancer in Cross-Strait Relations, 2000–2008....Pages 121-147 The U.S.-China-Taiwan Relationship: New Circumstances, Persistent Challenges....Pages 149-165 Taiwan’s Participation in the World Health Organization: The U.S. “Facilitator” Role....Pages 167-187 Japan’s Perspective on U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations....Pages 189-208 U.S. Debates About Taiwan’s Security, 1979–2009....Pages 209-242 Back Matter....Pages 243-245 The rise of China as a great power in East Asia, the return of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) as the ruling political party in Taiwan, and new pressures on America's traditionally dominant position in the region create a crossroads in the relations between the United States, China and Taiwan. This timely book examines the background, current issues, and future possibilities for this triangular relationship, in which geostrategic interests grapple with the ideological battle between democracy and authoritarianism, the question of sovereignty over Taiwan, and Taiwan's own contested identity. At stake is not only Taiwan's destiny but also US/China relations