Democratic Taiwan in the Twenty-first Century

Abstract

This thesis frames the Taiwanese struggle to defend democracy in the face of growing aggression from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Despite past agreements between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, particularly the One China Policy that states clear support for Chinese reunification under the governance of the CCP, the U.S. maintains friendly and robust relations with the Taiwanese government Washington actively supports the development of Taiwanese institutions and security infrastructure in addition to their status as a free, liberal democratic state. Everyday Taiwan seeks robust ways to protect its democratic way of life, the U.S. has increasingly stepped in to support Taiwanese institutions and security infrastructure in manners far more robustly than years past. The U.S.’s foreign policy actively pursues the defense of self-determination rights for sovereign nation-states and works to uphold the established practices and norms of the modern, rules-based international order. As China rises with consequential impact around the world, Taiwan’s democracy will face new challenges under the weight of the CCP’s illiberal rule. This will force the United States to shift and adapt policies in defense of democracy throughout East Asia. This thesis examines the historical record, considers past and current policy priorities, and identifies the drivers shaping this challenge in Indo-Pacific. The thesis highlights drivers behind an unprecedented security dilemma between the world’s two most powerful nation-states with Taiwan as a potential spark to light a great and unnecessary conflict.