The Making of Taiwan Policy in Mainland China: Structure and Process

Abstract

This article examines the structure and process of Beijing’s Taiwan policymaking. Although policymaking structure and process do not equal decisionmaking itself; they can still reveal some important information about the latter. \nBeijing’s Taiwan policymaking is not completely institutionalized; it has flexibly made use of both institutional and noninstitutional mechanisms. Within the established system, Taiwan affairs offices, and military, security, and foreign policy units may transmit their opinions to higher-level units through official administrative channels. Outside the established system, relevant organizations and persons may pass their opinions directly to the central decisionmaking body, either in the form of important or special reports or opinion exchanges. \nThe author’s study indicates that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), military, and security organizations handling Taiwan affairs and research organizations carrying on specialized studies about Taiwan enjoy comparatively greater influence in the shaping of Beijing’s Taiwan policy.