Singh, Gunjan(2009) 'Positive Trends in Cross-Strait Relations', Strategic Analysis, 33: 5, 648 — 651 (pdf)
Курс East AsiaDemocracy came to Taiwan under the leadership of Chiang Ching-Kuo, which brought an end to almost four decades of one-party dictatorship. Chiang Kai-Shek had harboured the dream of overtaking the whole of China and establishing the rule of Kuomintang (KMT). But with the passage of time and a shift in the international political scenario, he realized that this would not be possible. The outcome of democratization was the Taiwanization1 of Taiwanese domestic politics and as democracy matured, subsequent Taiwanese leaders realized the benefits of maintaining the
ongoing status quo across the Taiwan Straits.
Another important landmark in the change in the dynamics across the Straits was the economic integration of Taiwan with the mainland. The economic reforms that began on the mainland in 1978 saw both the economies becoming quite interdependent within a few decades. If one looks only from the economic perspective, then it is obvious that it is beneficial for both sides to maintain the status quo and not do anything rash in order to upset the ongoing balance. But this delicate balance was tested by Chen Shui-Bian of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), which came to power in Taiwan riding on a pro-independence stand. This greatly annoyed the mainland and there were a series of military exercises by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the Taiwan Straits and the formulation of the 2005 Anti-Secession Law by the Chinese government. This highly disturbed the economic interaction across the Straits. However, over time even Chen realized that a hard-line approach with the mainland would only disturb the island’s ongoing economic growth. Chen’s attitude was also not appreciated by the United States, which is committed to defending Taiwan
against any kind of military aggression from the mainland under the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).
