The Stagnant Relations across the Taiwan Strait: A Study on Cross-Strait Political Interactions between 1988 to 2012

Abstract

This research analyses the interaction of cross-strait relations, especially in the realm of “high politics” and trying to discuss why both Taiwan and China could not get further steps on issues of high politics. It seems that the close economic relationship between Taiwan and China couldn't have spillover effects increasing political interactions. In fact, even the low-political interactions become difficult in recent years, although the semi-official relations across the Taiwan-Strait have been established over two decades. The author tries to describe the structural restrictions of Cross-Strait triangular relations through perspective of “two-level games,”which means both Taiwanese domestic issues and the “American factor” play crucial roles to limit both Taiwan's and China's room for maneuver.