Introductory description

This module examines the historical and contemporary tensions between Taiwan and China, analyzing their implications for regional stability and global geopolitical conflict. It explores the roots of these tensions, including the legacy of Chinese imperialism, Taiwan's colonial history, and the Cold War dynamics that shaped cross-strait relations. Key topics include Taiwan's evolving identity and sovereignty, China's geopolitical ambitions, Taiwan's democratic transformation, and Taiwan's role as a convergence of Chinese and Western civilizations. The module also considers the involvement of Britain, the United States, and other global powers, as well as the significance of the Taiwan Strait as a potential flashpoint for conflict. Students will investigate broader themes such as economic interdependence, military posturing, and the influence of media narratives and deliberate propaganda in shaping public perception. The module invites critical engagement with the question: Is the Taiwan Strait truly a flashpoint for a third world war, or can diplomacy and multilateral engagement chart a path toward peace, democracy, and a multicultural world?

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

TERM ONE—Week One: Introduction to Taiwan-China Relations; Week Two: Historical Roots of Cross-Strait Tensions; Week Three: The Role of the United States in the Taiwan Strait; Week Four: Sovereignty and Identity: Taiwan’s Status; Week Five: The Military Dynamics of the Taiwan Strait; Week Six: Reading Week (No Seminar); Week Seven: Economic Interdependence and Rivalry; Week Eight: Regional Alliances and Global Politics; Week Nine: Flashpoint in Global Geopolitics: The Taiwan Strait; Week Ten: Case Study: The Role of International Actors in Taiwan-China Relations.
TERM TWO—Week One: Nationalism, Identity, and Conflict in Taiwan and China; Week Two: The Role of Democracy in Taiwan’s Political Landscape; Week Three: Military Escalation and International Response; Week Four: Economic Sanctions and Trade Wars; Week Five: The Taiwan Strait and Human Rights; Week Six: Taiwan’s Role in the Indo-Pacific Security Framework; Week Seven: Social Movements and Taiwan-China Relations; Week Eight: The Role of China’s "One China" Policy; Week Nine and Week Ten: Student Research and Presentation.
TERM THREE—Week One: Conclusion: Taiwan-China Relations in Global Context

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the historical and theoretical interpretations of Taiwan-China relations, with a focus on key themes such as sovereignty, identity, and military and economic power in the context of global geopolitics.
• Critically analyse and evaluate a broad range of primary sources and scholarly texts related to Taiwan-China interactions, examining their historical and contemporary significance and their implications for regional and global power dynamics.
• Effectively communicate ideas and construct coherent, persuasive arguments on the Taiwan-China conflict, exploring how factors such as nationalism, identity, economy, and international alliances intersect and shape the broader geopolitical landscape.
• Take responsibility for designing and presenting a well-researched project on Taiwan-China relations, creating content that is accessible to a non-academic audience while reflecting a deep understanding of the complexities of cross-strait interactions.
• Critically review and synthesize theoretical, methodological, and historiographical approaches to the study of Taiwan-China relations, integrating insights from international relations, history, and politics to deepen understanding of the conflict's role in global geopolitics.

Indicative reading list

Tucker, Nancy Bernkopf, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the United States, 1945-1992, New York: Twayne Publishers, 1994
Pang Yang Huei, Strait Rituals: China, Taiwan, and the United States in the Taiwan Strait Crises, 1954–1958, March 2019, Hong Kong University Press
Tsang, Steve Yui-Sang, The Cold War's Odd Couple: The Unintended Partnership between the Republic of China and the UK, 1950 – 1958. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020.
Leonard H. D. Gordon, Confrontation Over Taiwan: Nineteenth-Century China and the Powers, Lexington Books 2009
Tsang, Steve, (ed.), In the Shadow of China: Political Developments in Taiwan since 1949. London: Hurst, 1993
Goldstein, Steven M., (eds.) and Chang, Julian, (eds.), Presidential Politics in Taiwan: The Administration of Chen Shui-bian. Norwalk: East Bridge, 2008
Hsieh Chiao-chiao. Strategy for Survival: The Foreign Policy and External Relations of the Republic of China on Taiwan, 1949-1979. London: Sherwood Press, 1985
Corcuff, Stéphane. Memories of the future: National identity issues and the search for a new Taiwan. Routledge, 2016
Anru Lee, Haunted Modernities: Gender, Memory, and Placemaking in Postindustrial Taiwan, University of Hawaii Press, 2023
Greene, J. Megan, (eds.) and Ash, Robert, (eds.), Taiwan in the 21st Century: Aspects and Limitations of a Developmental Model. Abingdon; New York: Routledge, 2007
Catherine Lila Chou and Mark Harrison. Revolutionary Taiwan: Making Nationhood in a Changing World Order. Cambria Press, 2024

Subject specific skills

See learning outcomes.

Transferable skills

See learning outcomes.