The Impact of Taiwanese Domestic Politics on Cross Strait Relations

In 1996 the Republic of China held its first open presidential elections in which the incumbent Lee-Teng Hui, a benshengren born on the island, held his seat with a comfortable 54% of the vote. The run up to the elections saw the occurrence of The Third Taiwan Strait Crisis in which the PRC unsuccessfully attempted to intimidate voters in Taiwan, sending a message that the elections of Lee would ultimately mean war. In response the United States under the leadership of President Bill Clinton, acting as commander-in-chief, sent not one but two aircraft carriers into the straits, indicating military solidarity with the ROC. The exercise in brinksmanship magnified tensions in the straight and possibly even galvanized Taiwanese national identity over a Chinese identity. Following the end of his term Lee was ousted from the KMT for taking part in the creation of the pro independence Taiwan Solidarity Union. From 2000 to 2008 the Pan-Green Coalition, a coalition of pro-independence parties with strong Taiwanese identity, governed the island of Taiwan. The period from 2000 to 2008 had many scholars wondering what the impact of Taiwanese nationalism would be on cross straight, Sino-American relations. The sudden surge in Taiwanese nationalist sentiment during the period of DPP rule brought about concerns that the concept was politically fabricated in order to better oppose the KMT, that the movements would lead to armed conflict in the straits, and that the United States would abandon the island should they continue to move away from their official policy.
Of primary concern are the 4 noes that formed the bedrock of Sino-American relations over the straits until 2006. In his inauguration speech President Chen made a vow,
As long as the C...

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...ainst the interest of The United States.(Yang 8) The most alarming concept of status quo comes from the mainland, that assert’s that Taiwan is a matter of domestic policy, a rebel province of the PRC, who will see eventual reintegration. (Yang 8)
In a 2014 article published in the Asia Survey by Zheng Zemin, an analysis of post recession politics in Taiwan reveals the waning importance of the unification issue in favor of economic policy. Zheng Describes the cleavage in nationality as a political tool, used by the DPP to overpower the economic platform used by the KMT. (828) While Zheng observes that the amount citizens of the ROC identifying as Taiwanese has increased by some measures since 2008, he challenges the political nature, claiming that its legitimacy has lost clout due to the economic crisis of 2008, and sweeping corruption charges against the DPP. (829)