Taiwan and the Rise of China: Cross-Strait Relations in the Twenty-first Century (Challenges Facing Chinese Political Development)

Coincided with China’s economic reform and her rapid ascendance to a great power status, the relations between Taiwan and Chinese mainland since 1979 have also seen some encouraging development. However, the rapprochement is nothing but a smooth ride. Taiwan Strait has always been full of tensions and hostility since the communist took over the mainland over sixty years ago.The periodical tensions in the cross-Strait relations have from time to time threatened to derail the peace talks between the two sides, and poised to jeopardize the region’s peace and stability.

This book studies the past, present and future relations across the Taiwan Strait and examines many important questions such as internal and external factors contributing to the Taiwan’s shift in her mainland policy, impacts of Taiwan democratization on the cross-Strait relations, the development of Taiwanese identity and rise of Taiwanese nationalism, the possibility of expanding Taiwan’s international space under the shadow of China, the prospect of reunification between Taiwan and China, and the roles of the third parties, such as U.S., NGOs and Taiwan businessmen, in the changing relationship between the two sides.

Taiwan and the Rise of China will certainly help readers, especially those who lack of historical perspective of the political division of the two political adversaries, to grasp the complexity and nature of the cross-Strait relations and faster a real understanding of the significance of this relationship to peace in the region as well as the world in the 21st century.

Baogang Guo is Professor of Political Science and Director of Center for International Education at Dalton State College. He served as President of the Association of Chinese Political Studies between 2008 and 2010. He is also a research associate in ChinaResearchCenter in Metro Atlanta, GA. His research interests include comparative public policy, political culture and political legitimacy, and Chinese and Asia politics. He is author of China’s Quest for Political Legitimacy (Lexington, 2010) and coeditor of nine books. His recent publications appeared on Asian Survey, Journal of Chinese Political Science, Modern China Studies, Journal of Comparative Asian Development, Twenty-first Century, and American Journal of China Studies.

Chung-chian Teng is Professor of Diplomacy and Dean of the College of International Affairs, National Chengchi University (Taipei, Taiwan). He received his M. A. and Ph. D. of Political Science at Northwestern University in 1981 and 1985 respectively. He is member of Board of Directors of Chinese Political Science Association as well as Association of International Relations of Republic of China. In addition, he serves on Editorial Boards in three prominent academic journals in Taiwan, Journal of International Relations, Review of Global Politics as well as Taiwan Political Science Review. He is specialized in international political economy, international negotiation and foreign policy. He has written and edited numerous books and articles and his most recent publications are “Democracy, Development, and China’s Acquisition of Oil in Third World,” in Dancing with the Dragon: China’s Emergence in the Developing World (Lexington Books, 2010), “Conflict Management in East Asia: The China-Taiwan-North Korea Conundrum,” in Conflict Management, Regional Security, and Third Party Intervention in East Asia (Routledge, 2008), and “Hegemony or Partnership: China’s Strategy and Diplomacy Toward Latin America,” in China and the Developing World: Beijing’s Strategy for the Twenty-First Century (M.E. Sharpe, 2007). His co-authored books include Governments and Politics (2003, in Chinese), Political Communication and Skills of Negotiation (2003, in Chinese), and Latin American Studies (2002, in Chinese).