President Lee Teng-hui Research Articles

The Political Economy of Taiwan´s Relations with Southeast Asia: The “Southward Policy”

When President Lee Teng-hui and Premier Lien Chan visited Southeast Asia in early 1994, Taiwan's Southward began to be known world-wide. Superficially, this policy is aimed at strengthening Taiwan's economic relations with Southeast Asian countries, but in reality the ROC Government intends to expand Taiwan-Southeast Asian economic linkages in exchange for Tai wan's political participation in regional organizations and activities. Yet, while Southeast Asian countries welcome Taiwan's economic resources (capital and technology], they hesitate to upgrade their political relations with Taiwan owing to their deference to China. This article suggests that while Taiwan exerts efforts at streng thening its relations with Southeast Asia, it should also promote practical relations with mainland China. In addition, the South ward should be seen as a long-term objective instead of a short-term programme.

An interview with President Lee Teng-hui of the Republic of China on Taiwan

An interview with President Lee Teng-hui of the Republic of China on Taiwan

China's Relations with Hong Kong and Taiwan

National reunification is one of the Beijing leadership's topmost priorities, and the People's Republic of China (PRC) will take over control of Hong Kong in 1997. In recent years, the PRC has blocked Hong Kong's democratic reform and increasingly meddled in local Hong Kong affairs to strengthen Chinese control. These actions have exacerbated Hong Kong's crisis of confidence, causing a severe brain drain and flight of capital from the colony. In Taiwan, the accession to office in 1988 by President Lee Teng-hui, a native Taiwanese, and the growing democratization of Taiwan's politics and power structure, with calls for Taiwanese independence, are worrisome to Beijing. Hence the PRC authorities are pulling out all stops, including a low-keyed threat of force, to forestall separatism and press the government in Taipei to come to the negotiation table. Years before Hong Kong's reversion to China in 1997, Beijing seems likely to intensify the reunification campaign toward Taiwan. Should the PRC use coercion against Taipei, Beijing and Washington would be on a collision course, because the United States has a strong interest in Taiwan's stability, security, and continuous prosperity.