America’s Taiwan Policy during the First Obama Administration

• Main Authors: Andrew Quilliams Greve, 高安卓
• Other Authors: Lin, Wen-cheng
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/13393625129249025494

碩士 === 國立中山大學 === 中國與亞太區域研究所 === 102 === A major component of US foreign policy during the first Obama administration was the “rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific.” Rebalancing sought to place emphasis in US foreign policy on the Asia-Pacific region through deeper security, economic and diplomatic ties with regional allies and partners. In the literature on Taiwan’s role in the rebalancing, some have questioned if Taiwan has been strongly included. Analyses attempting to answer this question have focused primarily on the material aspects of the US-Taiwan relationship. This thesis seeks to add to the literature on US rebalancing by examining the social-ideational factors at play in US Taiwan policy. Data related to the security, economic, and diplomatic aspects of US Taiwan Policy is analyzed. The analysis suggests that during the four years of President Obama’s first administration, the US attempted to grow its economic and diplomatic links with Taiwan, and also to maintain its security relationship with Taiwan. America’s construction of its “Pacific nation” identity, a feature of rebalancing, has allowed the US greater flexibility in forming its Taiwan policy, particularly in regards to security policy. This has been accomplished by emphasizing the US role as a constructive regional power focused on building positive bilateral and multilateral relations. This construction has led the US to be supportive of Taiwan’s policy of enhancing ties with China. US Taiwan policy shows that rebalancing constructs a social discourse which acknowledges China’s central role in the development of Asia, and attempts to maintain as much US relevancy as possible through deeper engagement with its partners. Taiwan is also inhibited from pursuing unification due to the aspects of collective identity it shares with the US. The narrative of rebalancing, and the social facts of US Taiwan policy, can serve as evidence to Beijing that the US is not pursuing a policy of containment of China, thus shaping the future possibilities for US-China relations.