Institute of Political Science at Academia Sinica

Cross-Strait relations are becoming increasingly asymmetrical, while the most prominent phenomenon in international relations in the 21 st century is the power transition from the US to mainland China. The source of these two developments is the resurgence of China. In Group III, our research is conducted against this background and consists of the following themes.

First, asymmetrical cross-Strait relations are embedded in the global rivalry between the US and the PRC which impacts on all small and medium-sized countries. Each country must make a strategic choice between the two would-be hegemons. Which should it opt for: balancing, bandwagoning, or hedging? What is the reasoning behind this choice? What response would be forthcoming from the two would-be hegemons? The primary focus of Group III’s research is the causes, forms, and consequences of the strategic choices made by small and medium-sized countries in he context of the clash of titans. For this, we have organized cross-institutional projects in History-Informed IR Studies (HIRS), exploring pre-modern international relations in East Asia and the cultural and historical origins of China’s external behaviors (cross-temporal analysis). We also network with other area specialists so we can compare the choices made by small and medium-sized countries along the strategic fault lines in East Asia and Eastern Europe (cross-regional comparison).

Another focus of this group’s research is cross-Strait relations per se. We regularly explore various approaches to cross-Strait relations, and our publication, Revisiting the Contending Theories of Cross-Strait Relations, has had a wide academic impact. We have also analyzed the Taiwan people’s “image of China” and their attitude toward Beijing’s threat of “unification by armed force,” as well as how these two trends in public opinion interact with each other. We have found that leaders in Taiwan and the mainland tend to take a tough stance toward the other side when they are facing domestic challenges and lean toward flexibility when their power position is secure.

Our third theme is Chinese foreign policy, in particular, the sources of China’s new international assertiveness, the role of the top leaders in the reorientation of Beijing’s policy stance, and how China is able to secure political benefits through economic coercion.

The fourth theme is relations between China and the West (particularly the US). Here, we focus on how mainland China is able to challenge the US-led international order, in particular, how it can undermine Washington’s global influence.

How China’s rise impacts on its relations with neighboring countries and how that influences Taiwan’s interactions with those countries constitutes the fifth theme of our research.

All the above research themes, be they concerned with cross-Strait relations perse, China’s foreign policy, Sino American relations, or interaction between China and its neighbors, need to be understood within a framework of hegemonic competition and strategic choices made by small and medium-sized countries caught in the crossfire of great power rivalry. Because of the focus of their work, scholars in Group III find their research to be highly complementary and they collaborate closely. They expect to make significant contributions to the theory and practice of cross-Strait and international relations.

IPSAS series III
Revisiting Theories on Cross-Strait Relations