Economic Integration Across The Taiwan Strait

Despite their controversial political relationship, Taiwan and China remain very much entwined economically. This timely volume explores the complicated state of economic and trade relations between the two countries, meticulously unraveling the issue's various threads and presenting an authoritative breakdown of a complex and fascinating economic linkage. Armed with up-to-date original research, contributors offer expert analyses on a variety of issues relating to economic integration between Taiwan and China. These include trade agreements, foreign direct investment, outsourcing of manufacturing and migration of industry, integration of banking and financial markets, and the recent shift toward a more integrated economy with Greater China. The considerable political tension between the two countries is also discussed, as are the economic relationships with neighboring East Asian countries such as Japan and others. In the final chapter, editor Peter C.Y. Chow discusses Taiwan's policy options for the future and offers his expert recommendations for speeding Taiwan's achievement of globalization and widening its ultimate political choices. Professors and students of global economics and East Asian studies will no doubt find this a fresh and invaluable contribution to the literature.

This book presents an interdisciplinary examination of cross-Taiwan Strait relations and the complex dynamics at play in the region. Since the election of Ma Ying-jeou as Taiwan’s president in 2008, the relationship across the Taiwan Strait—long viewed as one of Asia’s most volatile potential flashpoints—has experienced a remarkable détente. Whether the relationship has been truly transformed, however, remains an open question and the Taiwan Strait remains a central regional and global security issue. A return to turbulence in the Taiwan Strait could also add a new dimension of instability in the already tense maritime disputes in the East and South China Seas. While the relationship across the Taiwan Strait remains critically important, it is also changing rapidly, and the chapters in this volume present new thinking to help make sense of complex cross-Strait dynamics. Specifically, these essays explore different security and/or globalization dimensions of China-Taiwan ties as well as the globalization-security linkages that have emerged. As the balance of power in Asia shifts dramatically, several chapters in this volume explore how traditional security forces are evolving. At the same time, there are new dynamics emerging as a consequence of globalization forces, such as the tremendous economic and social integration across the Taiwan Strait, and several chapters in this volume consider some of these new problems. Finally, several chapters consider the often under-researched dynamics associated with the globalization/security interface such as cyber threats, transnational criminal networks and the security spill-over impact of production globalization. This book will of much interest to students of Chinese Politics, Asian Security, globalisation, diplomacy and International Relations.

This book examines how since about 2008 the economy of Taiwan has become ever more deeply integrated into the economy of China. It goes beyond a consideration of trade and investment flows, and discusses also the large population flows, the growing integration of the two financial systems and the nature of the deep economic integration at the industry and firm level. It considers the impact of growing economic integration on society and politics, assesses how China-Taiwan economic integration is affecting the East Asian region more widely, and explores the implications for international relations, including the United States dominance in the region. Overall, the book presents a comprehensive analysis of all the issues.

Explains the complex and paradoxical process of economic integration and political divergence in current relations between Taiwan and mainland China. It analyzes the dynamics of economic statecraft on both sides and the conflicts between state objectives and business interests in the context of globalization and regional economic integration.

The book offers such significantly in-depth evidence of the tremendous complexities involved in PRC-ROC relations that scholars and policymakers alike will greatly appreciate its broader applicability to current comparative research on contemporary East Asia. Lisa Fischler, East Asia Integration Studies Professor Chow has put together an excellent collection of papers analyzing some of the most important political and economic issues in East Asia. The focus is on Taiwan, but several chapters deal separately with the United States, China, North Korea, Japan, and the EU. This is a very useful publication for those interested in contemporary East Asia. Thomas J. Bellows, The University of Texas at San Antonio, US and Editor, American Journal of Chinese Studies The US policy of supporting a democratic Taiwan while simultaneously engaging China is a delicate and complex balance, with outcomes critical to economic, security and strategic interests in Asia. At the same time, rising Taiwanese identity amid the emerging power of China continues to change the paradigm. The contributors to this volume explore the political and economic dimensions of this complicated and pressing issue. Whether the US China relationship evolves as one of strategic partners or strategic competitors will significantly affect power relations between Washington, Beijing and Taipei. More generally, it will set the tone for peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia Pacific. Peter Chow examines the potential crisis, as well as mitigating influences, by investigating political, economic and security considerations affecting cross-Taiwan Strait relations. He presents broad coverage of recent changes of policy in Taiwan, China and the US, with special emphasis on the adjustments of American policy on Taiwanese identity amid its democratization. An overall evaluation of current US policies toward China based on realism and idealism illustrates the shifting US China Taiwan relations. This insightful treatment will be of great interest to students and scholars of international relations, political economy, foreign relations, Asian studies, political science and economics. Civic leaders and representatives of interest groups involved with US China Taiwan relations will find the volume of great value in their work.

The "Taiwan question" has long been considered one of the most complicated and explosive issues in global politics. In recent years, however, relations between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland have improved substantially to the surprise of many. In this ground-breaking collection, distinguished contributors from the US, Asia, and Europe seek to go beyond the standard "recitation of facts" that often characterizes studies focusing on the Beijing-Taipei dyad. Rather, they employ a variety of theories as well as both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to analyze the ebbs and flows of the Taiwan issue. Their discussions clearly illuminate why there is a "Taiwan Problem," why conflict did not escalate to war between 2000 and 2008, and why cross-Strait relations improved after 2008. The book further reveals the limits of realism as a device to gain traction into the Taiwan issue, demonstrates the importance of taking into account domestic political variables, and shows how theory can be used to advance the cause of better China-Taiwan relations and to analyze the potential for future conflict over Taiwan. New Thinking about the Taiwan Issue is essential reading not only for students, scholars and practitioners with an interest in studying relations across the Taiwan Strait, but also for any reader interested in economics, international relations, comparative politics or political theory.

This book examines when and how international commerce can come to flourish in the presence of international political tensions and rivalry, and focuses in particular on the relationship across the Taiwan Strait.