Review Artikel: Richard Bush, Taiwan Faces China: Attraction and Repulsion

Richard Bush, "Taiwan Faces China: Attraction and Repulsion" in Power Shift: China and Asia’s New Dynamics, edited by David Shambaugh. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2005.

In his article entitled ‘Taiwan faces China: attraction and repulsion’, Richard Bush explains about the difficulties to improve China-Taiwan relations. He starts with explaining the economic relations between China and Taiwan that are growing closer. However, this doesn’t improve political relations between them. He says, “economics is one thing; politics is another. Whatever the mainland’s importance for Taiwan companies, and however much influence China exerts on the rest of East Asia, politically Taiwan is an outlier.”

He also describes that there is security dilemma interaction in cross straits relations. But this dilemma is different than classic version. Cross straits’ security dilemma is more influence by political factor than military factor. Security dilemma happens not because Taiwanese military power threatens China but it can increase Taiwan’s ability to defend its political initiatives (independence).

Furthermore, he describes the differences on how China and Taiwan view the legal status of Taiwan. China views Taiwan as a part of China. Automatically, it sees Taiwan is not a sovereign unit. While, Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign unit and states that China-Taiwan relations should build on the context of interrelations between 2 sovereign states. This is also the obstacle to unify China and Taiwan into a nation-state.

Taiwan now has the identity of Taiwanese. Bush says even though this identity doesn’t lead to a quest for independence but it completely complicates the relationship between China and Taiwan.

Next, the writer explains about Taiwanese domestic politics. He analyzes that the condition of Taiwan’s domestic politics also affects China-Taiwan relations. The presence of pro-independence group (especially in DPP), the problems of Taiwan political system, and the rise of 2 almost-equal-powered political blocs in the legislature (DPP & TSU vs. KMT PFP) will make harder to formulate broad consensus on mainland issues.

Finally, even though Bush describes China-Taiwan relations have some difficulties he says there are some possible scenario can be happened. First, no change happens. The situation might simply continue as it is. Second, China’s economic attraction strategy succeeds convincing Taiwan to sacrifice its political principle. Third, China recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign state. Fourth, Beijing would grow increasingly impatient and forcing Taiwan into negotiating on its term. Fifth, leaders in Taiwan could embark on a provocative course and would lead Beijing to take a coercive action toward Taiwan in order to preserve its credibility.


wendy a. prajuli