Taiwan`s democratization and cross-strait security

Abstract

The article focuses on the impact of democratization on regional security in Taiwan. Taiwan`s democratization began in 1986, when the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) announced a political liberalization program, and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was formed by the opposition. The process of democratization was completed with the first direct presidential election in 1996. The KMT had lost the civil war with the Chinese Communist Party (CCV) in 1949, and continued its struggle with the CCP from Taiwan throughout the Cold War. It is stated that Taiwan`s domestic politics is based on ethnic and national identity.