Home Institution
Washington University in St. Louis
Publication Date
Spring 2020
Abstract
The CCP strongly opposes a formal declaration of independence from Taiwan, and has threatened military force should Taiwan take that step. This paper seeks to explain the underlying reasons for the CCP’s aggressive policy. To do so, it uses a two-part methodology composed of a comprehensive engagement with existing secondary sources from the academic literature and four new interviews with experts in the field. The paper considers three main explanations for China’s opposition to independence: nationalism, international geostrategic factors, and factors of domestic politics. It concludes that domestic politics, and specifically the CCP’s perception that independence threatens its claim to legitimacy, constitutes the main driver of China’s foreign policy toward Taiwan.
Disciplines
Asian History | Asian Studies | Chinese Studies | Defense and Security Studies | Diplomatic History | International Relations | Peace and Conflict Studies
Recommended Citation
Warshauer, Connor, "The Key Factors Driving CCP Opposition to Taiwanese Independence" (2020). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 3288.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/3288
Included in
Asian History Commons, Asian Studies Commons, Chinese Studies Commons, Defense and Security Studies Commons, Diplomatic History Commons, International Relations Commons, Peace and Conflict Studies Commons
Program Name
Switzerland: International Studies and Multilateral Diplomacy