The ROC`s Security Strategies after the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis

Abstract

The PRC’s recent missile tests in the seas near Taiwan have raised serious concerns over the ROC’s security, and various proposals have been suggested for Taipei to deal with Beijing’s looming threat. Among them, six policy options are worthy of discussion. They include arms buildup, missile defense, regional collective security, closer relations with the United States, a peace accord with the PRC, and the nuclear option. After a systematic analysis, the paper concludes that Taipei’s options are still limited, and it will not be easy to make a major shift from current security strategies. One possible way to improve cross-Strait relations is to open talks for a peace accord wherein the two sides agree to the “one China” principle but are allowed to have their own interpretations of “one China.”