The Trouble with Taiwan: History, the United States and a Rising China (Asian Arguments)

Taiwan is one of the great paradoxes of the international order. A place with its own flag, currency, government and military, but which most of the world does not recognise as a sovereign country. An island that China regards as a 'rebellious province', but which has managed to survive defiantly for decades. Now with its neighbour China a major power on the world stage and ally United States looking increasingly inward, Taiwan's position has never been more precarious. Kerry Brown and Kalley Wu Tzu-hui reveal how the island's shifting fortunes have been shaped by centuries of conquest and by a cast of dynamic characters, by Cold War intrigue and the rise of its neighbour as a global power, explaining how this tiny island, caught between the agendas of two superpowers, is attempting to find its place in a rapidly changing world order. The Trouble with Taiwan relates the story of a fascinating nation and culture, and how its disputed status speaks to a wider, global story about Chinese control and waning US influence. Cover About the Authors Title Page Copyright Dedication Contents Map – Map of Taiwan Map – Disputed Claims in South China Sea Acknowledgements A Note on the Text Acronyms Timeline of Events Preliminary Words Introduction: The Great Asian Game Chapter 1: Contested Histories: From the Ming to Today The origins Colonization and settlement – 17th to 20th century Two histories – Taiwanese history in Taiwan and in the people’s republic History and Chineseness – the divided community of the Han A trip to the palace museum Chapter 2: The Great Transformation: Democratization and the Impact on Taiwan’s Identity How did Taiwan become democratic? The 1996 elections and the Mainland Democracy since 2000 – the rise of bread and butter issues Return of the nationalists – 2008 The 2018 elections Democracy is here to stay – no matter what Chapter 3: At the Front Line of ‘Sharp Power’: Taiwan’s Relation with the People’s Republic of China Contexts: the evolving Beijing policy framework towards Taiwan The Xi era: nationalism redux The cost of lack of real contact Time to move on: PRC nationalism and the issue of Taiwan The Taiwan PRC nexus: structural impediments The era of sharp power Diplomatic recognition International organizations and international space The economic space Emotional and nationalist call: the fading allure of one country, two systems Chapter 4: Worlds Apart: Taiwan’s International Space The maze of the ‘one China principle’ The US and Taiwan Taiwan in Asia Taiwan’s top trading partners – 2017 The world beyond: what does Taiwan mean to and what does it want from the rest of the world? Chapter 5: Parallel Lives: Taiwan’s Economic Identity Taiwan’s domestic development Taiwan’s economic development as a democracy – 1996–2008 Chapter 6: Thinking Through the Issue of Taiwan Identity, Identity, Identity Different kinds of space Models of handling China and showing the limits of China The delicate issue of status – the real reason the PRC needs Taiwan Conclusion: The Trouble with Taiwan Notes Further Reading Index "Taiwan is one of the great paradoxes of the international order. A place with its own flag, currency, government and military, but which most of the world does not recognize as a sovereign country. An island that China regards as a "rebellious province," but which has managed to survive defiantly for decades as an independent nation. However, with China now a major power on the world stage and with its ally United States looking increasingly inward, Taiwan's position has never been more precarious. Kerry Brown and Kalley Wu Tzu Hu reveal how the island's shifting fortunes have been shaped by centuries of conquest and by a cast of dynamic characters, by Cold War intrigue and the rise of its neighbor as a global power, explaining how this tiny island, caught between the agendas of two superpowers, is attempting to find its place in a rapidly changing world order. The Trouble with Taiwan relates the story of a fascinating nation and culture, and how its disputed status speaks to a wider, global story about Chinese control and waning US influence."-- Provided by publisher La jaquette indique : "Taiwan is one of the great paradoxes of the international order. A place with its own flag, currency, government and military, but which most of the world does not recognize as a sovereign country. An island that China regards as a "rebellious province," but which has managed to survive defiantly for decades as an independent nation. However, with China now a major power on the world stage and with its ally United States looking increasingly inward, Taiwan's position has never been more precarious. Kerry Brown and Kalley Wu Tzu Hu reveal how the island's shifting fortunes have been shaped by centuries of conquest and by a cast of dynamic characters, by Cold War intrigue and the rise of its neighbor as a global power, explaining how this tiny island, caught between the agendas of two superpowers, is attempting to find its place in a rapidly changing world order. The Trouble with Taiwan relates the story of a fascinating nation and culture, and how its disputed status speaks to a wider, global story about Chinese control and waning US influence." Taiwan is one of the great paradoxes of the international order. A place with its own flag, currency, government and military, but which most of the world does not recognise as a sovereign country. An island that China regards as a 'rebellious province', but which has managed to survive defiantly for decades. Now with its neighbour China a major power on the world stage and ally United States looking increasingly inward, Taiwan's position has never been more precarious. Kerry Brown and Kalley Wu Tzu-hui reveal how the island's shifting fortunes have been shaped by centuries of conquest and by a cast of dynamic characters, by Cold War intrigue and the rise of its neighbour as a global power, explaining how this tiny island, caught between the agendas of two superpowers, is attempting to find its place in a rapidly changing world order. -- Back cover Explores Taiwan's critical placein a rapidly changing world as a key flash-point between the United States and China