A Unified China or an Independent Taiwan? A Normative Assessment of the Cross-Strait Conflict

Abstract

Examines secession with respect to the case of Taiwan & the changing pattern of conflict, making a normative assessment of Taiwan's political status. Some historical background to the Taiwan question is provided to point up shifting strategies between reunification & secession. Clarification of the meaning of secession in this case centers on the concepts of sovereignty & self-determination. Seven conditions derived from Alexis Heraclides's (1997) normative framework for the right to secession are then applied to evaluate the legitimacy of the demand to exercise that right. J. Zendejas