| Publication |
2011.
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| Summary/Abstract |
The legitimacy of Taiwanese sovereignty has been exposed to various interpretations
over the past 60 years, oscillating between the Chinese heritage and the affirmation
of a specific identity. The democratization of the former Chiang Kai-shek regime
since the late 1980s has amplified the divergences between these two opposite
postures, generating a domestic political debate that opposes the two biggest
political parties and divides the Taiwanese population. Although different, these
definitions of a Taiwanese identity and sovereignty have in common a constant
reference to the Mainland and the current political regime of Communist China.
They also play a key role in determining the strategic relationship with the United
States and the affirmation of a defense policy vis-à-vis Beijing. This article explores
the evolution of Taiwanese nationalism and its constant link with both Mainland
China and the democratization of the regime, and analyzes the differences
between the nationalist and the pro-independence postures and examines their
consequences for the sovereignty of Taiwan and the definition of the nation.
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