A Review of Cross-Strait Trade Development

Abstract

This paper studies the development of cross-Strait trade relations since 1978. Before the mid-1980s, relations were mainly initiated by Beijing; afterwards, changes in both domestic and international economic conditions forced Taipei to take a more active role in the two-way trade. Nevertheless, both the Taipei government and scholars have urged local enterprises’ to cooperate with those of other countries for investment in mainland China to avoid political risks during the current uncertainties in cross-Strait relations.