Peril of Taiwan's democracy

Abstract

With the least cost and damage to either side, China's cross-strait policy aims to prevent Taiwan from becoming independent and eventually reunify it using brinkmanship and political negotiation supported by diplomatic and military pressure. Incredibly, the evolution of Taiwan's democracy over the last thirty years has aided Beijing’s effort by producing political unrest and a weakened armed force. Because of this, Taipei became more vulnerable and unable to react effectively to the incremental advance of China’s agenda across the Taiwan Strait. Importantly, Taiwan’s democracy has also descended into populism, causing it to commit strategic errors that have allowed Beijing to capitalise on.