Taiwan-China Cross-Strait Tensions

Taiwan’s President Raises Idea of a Cross-Strait ‘Merger’

Published

By TaiwanPlus

Open in App

Host: Annie Kuo In a recent speech, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te raised the idea of a “merger” between China and Taiwan. Under this analogy, it is the responsibility of the larger company (China) to present reasonable terms to the smaller company (Taiwan). It would then be up to the shareholders of the smaller company (i.e. the Taiwanese voters) to decide whether or not these terms were acceptable. Why did Lai choose this particular metaphor? And could it potentially set the stage for fairer and more reasonable cross-strait negotiations? In this episode, we discuss Lai’s speech, Taiwan’s trade diversification strategy, Cross-Strait peace talks, and how Taiwan should strategically position itself between the United States and China. Our guests: Leonard Chao National Tsing Hua University Adjunct Professor Vincent Chao Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei City Councilor