Written by Frédéric Krumbein. This article introduces a five-theory framework to analyse cross-strait relations. By evaluating historical decisions, economic integration, identity shifts, and security dynamics, the author provides a comprehensive analytical toolkit to map future trajectories for Taiwan-China relations across varying degrees of political salience.
Written by Simona A. Grano. The author explores the shifting dynamics of cross-Strait relations, tracing Beijing’s strategy from historical “letters to compatriots” to modern grey-zone coercion. She highlights how China’s unification rhetoric increasingly clashes with Taiwan’s democratic identity, creating an environment where political messaging, military posture, and strategic coercion closely align.
Written by Cho-han Hsiung. This article looks at how China’s new Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law could reshape Taiwan’s intelligence strategy. As Beijing tightens its reach over Chinese citizens at home and abroad, Taiwan faces both new risks and opportunities. The article argues that stronger asylum protections and secure reporting channels are crucial for distinguishing state operatives from immigrants, dissidents, and others facing political pressure.
Written By Meng Kit Tang. This article examines what Taiwan’s Han Kuang 42 exercise and China’s expanding mock-Taipei training facilities reveal about how both sides are preparing for the opening hours of a Taiwan Strait conflict. It argues that both sides are preparing for the same strategic problem from opposite directions: Taiwan is trying to preserve time and China is preparing to compress that window.
Written by Lourdes Ames-Rodriguez. “One China” and “status quo” are two contested concepts at the centre of the cross-Strait tension. This article argues that while differing interpretations of the concepts have been instrumental in maintaining short-term peace in the Taiwan Strait, they ultimately hinder prospects for a lasting, peaceful resolution by entrenching opposing positions and delaying necessary political decisions.
Written by Josh Boynton. This article argues that Taiwan’s democratisation did more than just change how Taiwan was governed, but also allowed Taiwanese to publicly express who they thought they were. It created a new social and political experience that solidified into a unique Taiwanese identity and became a moderating force, especially for the younger generation who have no memory of authoritarian rule.
