| Abstrakt: |
Has Taiwan's democratization helped US-Taiwan relations? The US did not abandon a democratic ally when it ended official relations with Taiwan in 1979. However, after more than two decades of political liberalization in Taipei, to break unofficial ties today America would be parting with a developed democracy. As a self-proclaimed promoter of democracy, such a change in circumstances should matter to US foreign policy, but the concurrent increase in tension in the Taiwan Strait limits America's flexibility. Nevertheless, while it may be easier to identify America's rhetorical support for Taiwan's democracy, in reality Taiwanese democracy has never damaged relations beyond repair by the next democratically elected president of Taiwan, despite long periods of turbulence. By examining American rhetorical support and the reality of the issues created by Taiwan's democratization, the 1979 to 2016 timeline of US-ROC relations, and counterfactual developments for Taiwan had it not democratized, the gap between America's rhetorical and real support for democracy on the island diminishes. Overall, democratization has bound America and Taiwan closer together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
