Taiwan's National Security: Dilemmas and Opportunities

FROM THE PUBLISHER

From an economic backwater in the early 1950s, Taiwan created an economic miracle that is now one of the world's export powerhouses. In the face of China's growing power and threat to use force to reunify the island with the mainland, Taiwan is in a precarious position as it asserts its role in the region and the world. These unique circumstances provide it with both dilemmas and opportunities. Clearly structured and very accessible, this book rigorously examines the key issues to great effect. Moreover, policy-orientated chapters including contextual historical information ensure that this research makes an impressive supplementary resource text for Asian politics and international relations courses. Contents: Taiwan's security dilemma, Alexander C. Tan, Steve Chan and Calvin Jillson; Taiwan - opportunities and challenges, Robert Scalapino; Successful democratization in the ROC: creating a security challenge, Cal Clark; Defending Taiwan's democracy, Chia-lung Lin; The republic of China on Taiwan's "pragmatic diplomacy", Bruce Dickson; Taiwan in APEC's trade structure: Deutch and Hirshman revisited, Steve Chan; Risk diversification: ensuring Taiwan's security, Alexander C. Tan with Scott Walker and Tsung-Chi Yu; Index.

SYNOPSIS

Six papers from a conference on security issues in Taiwan are presented, touching on areas such as successful democratization in the Republic of China, national identity and Taiwan security, Taiwan in APEC's trade structure, and the Republic of China on Taiwan's pragmatic diplomacy. The book can be used as a supplement for courses in Asian politics and international relations. Most material originated at an April 1998 conference held at Southern Methodist University. Tan is affiliated with the University of North Texas.