Building Trust across the Taiwan Strait: A Strategy of Reassurance

Abstract

This article employs reassurance theory to explore the question of how trust can be built between China and Taiwan, suggesting that a major breakthrough in cross-Strait relations will not be possible unless these two historical rivals reassure each other through costly signals. This paper tentatively assesses a number of costly signals that Beijing or Taipei might make to elicit trust from the other side. Given that China`s political system has an intrinsic credibility problem, Beijing will have to bear more costs than Taipei if its reassurances are to be credible. However, China`s superior power gives it more leverage in promoting a cross-Strait trust-building process. Although such a trust-building approach would entail certain costs and risks for both Beijing and Taipei, it is a worthwhile enterprise for the sake of peace and reconciliation across the Taiwan Strait.