Routledge Cross-Strait Relations Since 2016: The End of the Illusion (Routledge Research on Taiwan Series)

Cross-Strait Relations Since 2016: The End of the Illusion examines the situation in the Taiwan Strait since the election of Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party in the January 2016 general elections. Tracking the pragmatic approach taken by the Tsai administration, this book positions the recent developments within a changing geopolitical context and analyzes Beijing’s reactions to an environment which has become increasingly skeptical of its intentions. It shows that despite President Tsai’s commitment to the "status quo" in the Taiwan Strait and pro-democracy policies, which have been well received by the international community, Xi Jinping continues to advocate for a unification policy which remains very unpopular in Taiwan. With in-depth, on-the-ground analysis based on access to various government actors in Taiwan and abroad, the author takes a deep dive into a highly complex relationship that is often misunderstood abroad, with stakes that have direct implications for the future stability of the Indo-Pacific region. The first English language book to provide a full assessment of the four years of DPP rule since 2016, this book will be useful to students and scholars of Asian Studies and Taiwan Studies, as well as Security Studies, Politics and International Relations. Review "Cole presents a sobering perspective that fully examines the limitations Taiwan faces and analyzes what the nation can realistically do to ensure its survival." Taipei Times "When it comes to Tsai's governing model and approach to foreign policy, the complex dynamics of Taiwan's international relationships, and the challenges Taiwan faces domestically, Cole's latest book contributes a fresh and engaging perspective on many of today's most talked-about issues." Taiwan Business TOPICS About the Author J. Michael Cole is a Taipei-based senior non-resident fellow with the Global Taiwan Institute in Washington, D.C., the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa, Canada, and the Taiwan Studies Programme at the University of Nottingham, UK.