U.S. interests in the new Taiwan

Moving into the 1990s, the United States is faced with a remarkably fluid international environment that poses significant challenges, risks, and opportunities. In Asia, one of the most intractable issues that continues to engage U.S. policymakers is the future of Taiwan. Since 1986 the scope of political, economic, and foreign-policy developments has been so substantial as to create, in essence, a "new" Taiwan. Most of these changes are in the U.S. interests. However, the new Taiwan also poses a major challenge to the Sino-American relationship, particularly in the climate of uncertainty and transformation that characterizes post-containment U.S. strategy toward East Asia in general. Martin L. Lasater analyzes the major areas of transformation in the new Taiwan and explores its future prospects. He considers the implications for U.S. relations and interests on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and offers concrete policy recommendations.