Taiwan's Triangle: US, China, and Geopolitical Chessboard
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61841/89e4sv36Keywords:
Taiwan, Geopolitical Hotspots, National Interest, Power PoliticsAbstract
This paper explores how the interactions between China, the USA, and their allies shape Taiwan's politics, as both nations contest each other's narratives, denying Taiwan an independent agency. It aims to expand our understanding of Taiwan's role in the escalating conflict between China and the USA, shedding light on deeper issues in the Asia-Pacific Region due to mismanaged relations. The paper argues that the U.S. and China prioritize power politics and national interests over moral considerations, influencing their international behavior and dominance over Taiwan. Taiwan is seen as a global hotspot, analyzed for its geopolitical, geo-strategic, and geo-economic impact on the Asia-Pacific Region. The historical context of Taiwan's formation is briefly explored, setting the stage for dissecting the triangular relationship. The third section summarizes the highs and lows of the U.S., China, and Taiwan relationship, emphasizing Taiwan's role in the power struggle. The paper concludes with suggestions for the research community and leaders to promote peace and discourage aggressive behaviour. Throughout, terms like Taiwan, ROC, China, and PRC are used interchangeably.
Downloads
References
1. Babones, S. (2016a, January 12). *One China, One Taiwan*. Foreign Affairs. [https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/taiwan/2016-01-12/one-china-one-taiwan](https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/taiwan/2016-01-12/one-china-one-taiwan)
2. Babones, S. (2016b, December 11). *Taipei’s Name Game*. Foreign Affairs. [https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/taiwan/2016-12-11/taipeis-name-game](https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/taiwan/2016-12-11/taipeis-name-game)
3. Buckley, C., & Bradsher, K. (2017). Xi Jinping’s Marathon Speech: Five Takeaways. *New York Times*, 18.
4. Doshi, R. (2021). *The long game: China’s grand strategy to displace American order*. Oxford University Press.
5. Friedberg, A. L. (2018). Competing with China. *Global Politics and Strategy, 60*(3), 7–64.
6. He, K. (2016). Explaining United States–China relations: Neoclassical realism and the nexus of threat–interest perceptions. *The Pacific Review, 30*(2), 133–151.
7. Kissinger, H. (2011). *In China*. Penguin Press.
8. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). (2019). *Government Portal of the Republic of China*; Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [https://www.taiwan.gov.tw/](https://www.taiwan.gov.tw/)
9. Rej, A. (2018). *REVOLUTIONARY ROAD: INDO-PACIFIC IN TRANSITION*. Observer Research Foundation.
10. Ross, R. S. (2006). Taiwan’s Fading Independence Movement. *Foreign Affairs, 85*(2), 141–148. [https://doi.org/10.2307/20031917](https://doi.org/10.2307/20031917)
11. Shambaugh, D. (2012). *Tangled Titans: The United States and China*. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
12. *Taiwan country profile*. (2019). BBC News. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-16164639](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-16164639)
13. Liu, B.-C. (1980). Economic growth and quality of life: A comparative indicator analysis between China (Taiwan), USA and other developed countries. *American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 39*(1), 1-21.
14. Cabestan, J. P. (2012). The strategic triangle between Taiwan, China, and the USA: A European perspective. In *European Perspectives on Taiwan* (pp. 125-143). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
15. Paladini, S. (2011). A view from the Isthmus: China's strategic interests in Latin America between Taiwan and the USA. *The Journal of Comparative Asian Development, 10*(1), 62-89.
16. Kindermann, G. K. (2013, October). Changing Patterns of Relations between Taiwan, China, and the USA. In *Economic and Political Cooperation between Asia and Europe in the Age of Globalisation* (pp. 53-64). Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG.
17. Ross, R. S. (2002). Navigating the Taiwan Strait: Deterrence, escalation dominance, and US-China relations. *International Security, 27*(2), 48-85.
18. Tucker, N. B. (Ed.). (2005). *Dangerous Strait: The US-Taiwan-China Crisis*. Columbia University Press.
19. Portada III, R. A., Lem, S. B., & Paudel, U. (2020). The final frontier: China, Taiwan, and the United States in strategic competition for Central America. *Journal of Chinese Political Science, 25*(4), 551-573.
20. Chow, P. C. (Ed.). (2007). *Economic integration, democratization, and national security in East Asia: Shifting paradigms in US, China, and Taiwan relations*. Edward Elgar Publishing.
21. Hsu, J. Y., & Saxenian, A. (2000). The limits of guanxi capitalism: Transnational collaboration between Taiwan and the USA. *Environment and Planning A, 32*(11), 1991-2005.
22. Brown, M.B., Aoshima, M., Bolen, L.M., Chia, R., & Kohyama, T. (2007). Cross-cultural learning approaches in students from the USA, Japan and Taiwan. *School Psychology International, 28*(5), 592-604.
23. Maher, N. (2023). US–China policy amid a persistent strategy: Is conflict over Taiwan inevitable? *Review of Economics and Political Science*.
24. Saxenian, A. (2001). Transnational communities and the evolution of global production networks: The cases of Taiwan, China, and India.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2020 AUTHOR
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation .
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
