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Taiwan in Transition: Prospects for Socio-Political Change

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2009

Hung-mao Tien
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Extract

President Chiang Kai-shek's death on 16 April and President Gerald Ford's announcement that he would visit Peking in the autumn of 1975 once again direct attention to the political future of the Republic of China and the 16 million inhabitants of Taiwan. Progress towards diplomatic normalization between the United States and the People's Republic of China has been slower than many would have expected following President Nixon's visit to the mainland in February 1972. For the island's inhabitants any dramatic change in their political status may spell a permanent alteration in their life style, which has become substantially different from that of the mainland. Precisely because of this, one needs to look closely at their political aspirations and the socio-political changes that have occurred. Any political solution for Taiwan's future should be analysed with respect to its impact on these vital human interests.

Type
Research Article
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 64 , December 1975 , pp. 615 - 644
Copyright
Copyright © The China Quarterly 1975

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