Ramon Hawley Myers

Jialin Zhang

In 1949, China divided into two regimes, with People's Republic of China controlling the mainland and Taiwan, or the Republic of China, controlling a group of offshore islands. This book describes how, for more than half a century, these competing regimes have struggled to unify China, until "political earthquake" of Taiwan's 2000 election raised the stakes. The authors detail the two regimes' move toward détente, its eventual collapse in 1990s, and analyze aftermath of Taiwan's 2000 and 2004 elections. They explain how "Taiwan nationalism" promoted by current regime, calling for Taiwan's independence from China, has intensified conflict between the regimes and locked both sides into a new contest that has increased probability of war. Whether negotiations on divided China issue can occur soon, the authors conclude, depends on how ideological and political markets influence Taiwan and mainland China's political life and beliefs. If Taiwan nationalism grows, with a new generation educated to downgrade importance of their Chinese identity, tensions would nurture separatism from China and war would be inevitable. Whatever Taiwan's people decide, the issue will continue to be a problem for leaders of both sides--Publisher's description.

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