Publisher's Synopsis
Taiwan's growing economic power and changing political identity is complicating views of a Chinese state with its base in Beijing. Taiwan's geographic centrality, cultural ties throughout the region, an enviable record of economic development and its world trading skills have established Taiwan, the old Republic of China, at the centre of a network of political and economic influence in the Asia-Pacific region. Taiwan, now an APEC member, is a natural trading partner for mainland China. It is the source of significant amounts of foreign capital. In economic terms, Taiwan is more important in many respects than mainland China. This book aims to explain how and why Taiwan has come of age. It draws on contributions from scholars in Taiwan, Australia and the United States.
