Challenges of the Mainland-Taiwan relations: The influence of the Chinese and the Taiwanese national identities since 1993 on the prospects of a Cross-Strait reunification

Details

Supervisors

Atanassova, Elena

Faculty

Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales, politiques et de communication

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences politiques, orientation relations internationales, à finalité spécialisée: diplomatie et résolution des conflits

Abstract

Since the end of the Chinese Civil War have the Cross-Strait relations between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China been challenging with the Chinese reunification project, which aims at unifying the both aforementioned actors under one legal entity. The prospects for a Cross-Strait reunification weakened as the Chinese and Taiwanese national identities have drifted apart since 1993, the starting year of our research. The constructivist-based research showed that on the one hand, the Chinese national identity building took place around promoting economic development while on the other hand; the Taiwanese national identity building centered herself on creating an exclusive Taiwanese identity. Discourse analyses of statements from the Mainland’s, Taiwan’s, and the US’ presidencies have shown that these three actors favored stability in the Formosa Strait in order for them to focus on their own national priorities. The diverging Taiwanese and Chinese national identities thus negatively influenced the prospects for a reunification as they did not make any major progress possible on the project.