Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This study aims to examine the determinants of citizens’ positions on policy issues in democratic polities. Theorists of rational choice maintain that individuals’ stands on various issues are primarily governed by the perceived costs and benefits of possible policy outcomes. As individuals tend to minimize the associated costs and maximize related benefits, “self-interest” is thought to be a major determinant of citizens’ attitudes on various policies. “Symbolic politics” analysis maintains that as individuals develop various personal attachments in the form of party identification, ideological orientations, and ethnic or national identity, they respond to issues according to these attachments on the basis of cognitive consistency. While these lines of analysis are rather popular in academic inquires, what is underdeveloped is the role of threat perception in citizens’ policy positions. When imposed dangers are felt by citizens of democratic polities, they are likely to believe that they are engaging in zero-sum political battles with a nature of having a life or death consequence. How does individuals’ perception of threat affect their policy positions that are deemed important to them? The analysis of Taiwan residents’ preferences on cross-Strait economic exchanges provides an ideal opportunity to answer the above research question and indeed to test the three competing explanations for the formation of citizens’ policy positions in democratic polities.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Being one of the international hot spots, the cross-strait relation could not only influence the future of China, but the stability of East Asia and even the global system. To majority of researchers, what they pay the main attention should not be the past of the cross-strait relations, that is, why Mainland and Taiwan begin to fight each other, but how could they solve these problems in the future. From the perspective of liberalists, the so-called Democratic Peace or Peaceful Transformation maybe the key answers, which means after finishing the economic reforms China will lead to the political transformation, and the problem of cross-strait relations would be solved. Nonetheless, to the realists, before an appropriate international regime dealing with the conflict effectively to be constructed, the cross-strait relations should be decided by power contrast between China and Taiwan. In this paper, I will review the standpoints of liberalism and realism first, and then try to analyze and realize which one would be the possible choice to resolve the deadlock of cross-strait relations.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper attempts to examine the discourses on TMD in Taiwan from a non-realist perspective. I propose that the popular support of joining in the US-dominated TMD in Taiwan is closely related to the interpretations of the concepts of ?security? and ?threat? in the society evolved in the process of the island?s political development over the past decade. The rise of a new Taiwanese identity justifies the policies to militarize the island and the strategy of continuous reliance on the US for Taiwan?s security. Therefore, deployment of TMD is considered in Taiwan as a legitimate right to preserve its political system, economic prosperity and core values. On the other hand, Chinese leaders often construct their views on TMD or the Taiwan issue from a pure strategic perspective because they tend to treat Taiwan as simply pawn in the great-power competition between the US and China. In addition, Taiwan?s acquisition of TMD or permanent separation from the mainland will constitute a direct challenge to the security of the Chinese state. Eventually, the dispute over TMD between Taiwan and China is rooted in different understandings of the meanings of security and threat from both sides rather than the military balance across the Taiwan Strait, as advocated by realists.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper identifies and examines a number of long-term trends reshaping the security environment in the Taiwan Strait in ways that might produce a military conflict. Focusing on long-term trends is a useful analytical approach that highlights the possibility that political leaders may knowingly take risky actions in response to perceptions that adverse trends are eroding their security. Taiwan’s democratic transition and growing sense of a separate Taiwan identity have changed the political considerations governing Taiwan’s policy toward the mainland. China worries about growing pro-independence sentiment in Taiwan, but lacks the political tools to build support for unification. As a result, China has sought to deter movement toward Taiwan independence while developing the military capabilities to deter U.S. intervention in support of Taiwan. China’s goal is to force the United States to choose between continuing its support for Taiwan or sacrificing Chinese cooperation on economic and security issues. The perceived Chinese military threat to Taiwan has caused the United States to increase its support for Taiwan, included increased security cooperation. These trends are gradually undercutting the basis for the “one China” framework that has served U.S. interests effectively for the past thirty years. The paper examines these long-term trends and assesses their implications for the stability of the security environment in the Taiwan Strait.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: In recent year, there have been significant developments in the peace and stability in cross-Strait relations, which is critical to the international relations in East Asia. In addition, the interaction among mainland China, US, and Taiwan is increasing as they are becoming more active in regional multilateral institutions. This situation raises the puzzle that whether institutions, economic interdependence can facilitate peace and stability among China, Taiwan and the United States. If the answer is yes, what are these causal mechanisms? Liberal theories of international relations emphasize the role of international institutions on fostering cooperation by reducing obstacles_ such as uncertainty and transaction costs__ that stand in the way of mutually beneficial agreements between states. In addition, they also hold that interdependence decreases the incentives for conflict and war because states become reluctant to disrupt or jeopardize the welfare benefits of open economic exchange. This paper unifies these theoretical insights to explore the role of economic interdependence, institutions on the stability and cooperation between mainland China, Taiwan, and the U.S.