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<p>This thesis examines the shifts in Taiwan's independence policy since 1991 to  determine whether Taipei has been more restrained at times of military vulnerability.  The objective is to determine whether Taipei's actions favoring independence are  dependent on threats to its security from offensive actions by the People's Republic of  China (PRC), and if so, to determine the effect of the PRC's growing military capability  on those independence policies. The level of U.S. support for Taiwan is a significant  component of its relative security. Therefore shifts in that support are evaluated and the  resulting implications for U.S. policy assessed.  Taipei's official policy has hovered around the status quo with occasional  excursions toward independence since 1991. These excursions occurred for the most part  when Taipei was relatively secure from PRC threats, and were curbed when concerns  were expressed by Washington. PRC military strength and the level of U.S. support not  only influence Taiwan's independence policy, but also Taiwan's domestic politics. For  peaceful resolution, Washington must continue its policy of strategic ambiguity and, as a  new KMT regime in Taiwan eases the tension of recent years, it should reconsider noninvolvement  and be prepared to play at least a passive role in PRC-ROC negotiations.
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<br>Subjects:</div>
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Prescott, Stacey A.</div>
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