Maintaining the Status Quo in the Taiwan Strait

Abstract

In order to ensure vital U.S. interests concerning security and economic freedom in the region, the status quo in the Taiwan Strait must be maintained by a comprehensive U.S. strategy involving all aspects of national power. Key to this strategy is the bolstering of international/regional support of Taiwan, Taiwanese military deterrence backed by strategically ambiguous U.S. assurances of security, intertwined economic ties between all parties, and a strong informational campaign aimed at lessoning tensions and improving diplomatic relations between all parties involved. The strategy must maintain a delicate balance to ensure neither the PRC nor Taiwan sees a change in U.S. policy towards the sovereignty of Taiwan and therefore an opportunity to attempt unilateral resolution of the One-China issue. Any attempt by either the PRC or Taiwan to resolve the issue would force the U.S. to take one side or the other, either of which would damage U.S. vital national interests in the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, it remains in the best interest of the U.S. to retain a policy of strategic ambiguity and keep the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA589447

Entities

People

  • Robert L. Menist

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Counter WMD
  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ambiguity
  • Computer Networks
  • Deterrence
  • Economic Systems
  • Education
  • Foreign Policy
  • Governments
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Information Operations
  • International Relations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Negotiations
  • Public Policy
  • Security
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Asian Economic Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies