DPP`s Cross-Strait Policy During Chen Shui-bian Era: Taiwan Struggle for Independence

The Taiwan Strait remains one of the world’s most prominent flashpoints in the post-Cold War era. Over the past six decades, the societies on either side of the Taiwan Strait and relations between them have undergone momentous transformations. In 1949, as a result of civil war on the Chinese mainland, the Republic of China (ROC) government relocated to Taiwan. Since then, the two separately governed territories have evolved in different directions: the ROC has become a thriving democracy with a well-developed free-market system, while mainland China, though gradually adopting free-market mechanisms, remains authoritarian. Originating in 1949 the Taiwan issue is still quite complicated and extremely crucial one. Complicated because of the importance of the political actors involved in the conflict, crucial because of the consequences that issue can have if not handled appropriately. Firstly, if Taiwan gains independence it can lead to chain reaction of the separatism movements in Xinjiang, Tibet and Peoples Republic of China (PRC) Southern Regions. Secondly, any conflict in Taiwan Strait would damage the global economy and threaten regional stability and world security. Another reason of extreme actuality of the issue is presidential elections which took place in ROC in January 2016. First female president Tsai Yingwen, the representative of Taiwan pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was elected. And in case of DPP harsh cross-strait policy, the further escalation of the conflict is a quiet possible perspective. The precedent of such an escalation took place during the DPP’s rule in the period of Chen Shuibian presidency in 2000-2008. No doubt that Tsai Yingwen’s mainland tactics would be influenced by the former experience of her party members. That is why the present paper is intended to cover the evolution of cross-strait relations and to study pro-independence DPP mainland policy during Chen Shuibian era (2000-2008).