The purpose of this website is to explore the Taiwan factor in Sino-American strategic relations. Although a small island, Taiwan has significant geostrategic and geopolitical value from the security points of view of both Beijing and Washington, as well as other Asian-Pacific capitals. Taiwan also has impressive historical, cultural, political, and ideological value. And, then, there are the economic and technological contributions Taiwan makes to the global economy.
When all of these considerations are taken into account, the importance of Taiwan appears far greater than its territorial or population size would suggest. It is the cumulative importance of Taiwan that makes the Taiwan issue in Sino-American relations of considerable interest to citizens, scholars, and statesmen around the world.
The website will present a series of articles, editorials, and commentaries discussing the Taiwan issue from different levels of analysis, with particular focus on the strategic perspectives of Washington, Beijing, and Taipei. Also discussed are various aspects of relations between the United States and China, because Taiwan’s future is in many ways a collateral result of tensions or harmony in Sino-American relations. It is my hope that clarification of the Taiwan issue will reduce the possibility of misunderstanding and miscalculation which could precipitate a crisis in the Taiwan Strait and harm the interests of all nations concerned.
The author of this website and its contents is Martin Lasater. Dr. Lasater has studied the Taiwan issue in Sino-American relations for more than 20 years and published widely on the subject.