Across the Taiwan Strait

The 1995-1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis caused the largest naval movement by the United States in the Asia-Pacific since the Vietnam War. Using this crisis as a starting point, Across the Taiwan Strait takes an in-depth look at the relationship between mainland China and Taiwan. The contributors examine the causes of conflict and explore ways to prevent future tension from deteriorating into war. The political economy of Taiwan's mainland policy, the politics of mainland China's Taiwan policy, and the implications for U.S. security policy are also explored.

Suisheng Zhao is Research Associate at the Fairbank Center for East Asian Research at Harvard University and Associate Professor of Government and East Asian Politics at Colby College. He is also the Founder and Editor of The Journal of Contemporary China.

Suisheng Zhao--Introduction I. OVERVIEW Suisheng Zhao--Economic Interdependence and Poltical Divergence: A Background Analysis of the Taiwan Strait Crisis John F. Copper--The Origins of Conflict Across the Taiwan Strait: The Problem of Differences in Perceptions II. MAKING SENSE OF BEIJING'S TAIWAN POLICY: FROM PEACEFUL OFFENSE TO MILITARY COERSION You Ji--Changing Leadership Consensus: The Domestic Context of War Games Suisheng Zhao--Changing Leadership Perceptions: The External Context of War Games Qimao Chen--The Taiwan Strait Crisis: Causes, Scenarios and Solutions III. MAKING SENSE OF TAIPEI'S MAINLAND POLICY: THE TRANSITIONAL POLITICS AND IDENTITY CRISIS Yun-han Chu--The Poltical Economy of Taiwan's Mainland Policy Steven Goldstein--The Cross Straits Talks of 1993--The Rest of the Story: Domestic Politics and Taiwan's Mainland Policy Shelley Rigger--Competing Conceptions of Taiwan's Identity: The Irresolvable Conflict in Cross-Strait Relations IV. LESSONS FROM THE CRISIS Edward Friedman--The Prospects of a Larger War: Chinese Nationalism and the Taiwan Strait Conflict Dennis Van Vranken Hickey--The Taiwan Strait Crisis of 1996: Implications for U.S. Security Policy