Dangerous Borders; Sino-Taiwan Relations

Question 1

Treaty of —— established Japanese control of Taiwan from 1895-1945?

Answer 1

Treaty of Shimonoseki

Question 2

After Japan’s capitulation, who was Taiwan ceded to?

Answer 2

The Republic of China

Question 3

Why was Taiwan’s status still unclear after peace treaty of 1951?

Answer 3

Whilst Japan’s claim was renounced, it was never formally assigned to another party

Question 4

In what year was the ROC removed from the UN SC?

Answer 4

1971

Question 5

Following the Shanghai Communique of 1972, which state adhered to the One-China policy in 1979?

Answer 5

The United States

Question 6

In an effort to maintain relations, what did the US do with Taiwan despite the One-China Policy

Answer 6

Replace its Mutual Defence Treaty with the ROC with the Taiwan Relations Act 1979

Question 7

What is the 2005 Anti-Succession Law?

Answer 7

An act which authorises the PRC to use “non-peaceful means” against an independence claim

Question 8

Why will neither the PRC or ROC currently seek to change the status-quo?

Answer 8

Because the result of seeking to change is incredibly uncertain, therefore the PRC does not invade and the ROC does not declare independence

Question 9

How could Status-quo change?

Answer 9

• Diplomatic agreement unifying the two
• Diplomatic agreement splitting the two
• Unilateral action of one of them

Question 10

What does Andrew Scobell mean by the idea of “Weapons of Mass Democratization”?

Answer 10

That in the war on whom is truly ‘China’, the ROC has been able to balance the rivalry by establishing a diverging national identity via democratisation; establishing themselves as something more than just a rouge state

Question 11

What stops the PRC from just absorbing the ROC?

Answer 11

• Taiwan’s alliance with the US
• Diverging identity of Taiwan
• Geography and capability of Taiwan to fight back