The Research of U.S.-Sino Strategic Interaction and the Impact on Taiwan Missile Defense System-- An Assessment of George W. Bush’s Policy

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the interactive relationship between United States-China strategic interaction and Taiwan security. More specifically, under the US–China–Taiwan strategic triangle framework during George W. Bush-era, considering Taiwan Missile Defense System construction as variable, the author is to analyze how United States manipulates some sensitive issue like Taiwan Missile Defense System construction to balance against China’s martial expansion in Asia-Pacific Zone. The author adopts hypothetical-deductive method to hypothesize that there is a mutual interactive relationship between US–China strategic interaction and Taiwan Missile Defense System construction, and assume that ―the more drastic the strategic conflict between United States and China is, the more inclined that United States would support Taiwan to construct Missile Defense System‖ based on the perspective of Balance of Power Theory and National Interest point of view. The research result demonstrates that Taiwan security definitely plays a crucial role in the co-opetition relationship between United States and China. The higher the US–China strategic competition pressure is, the more actions United States would take to support Taiwan security.
Through further investigation, the author also dissects the United States’ strategy and manipulation on supporting Taiwan to construct crucial national defenses, US and China’s recognition and reactions on Taiwan’s construction of national defenses, and the dispute process that Taiwan might go through when considering major Foreign Military Sales projects. Finally, even though the President of Taiwan Ma Ying-jeou have been dedicated into improving the cross-strait relations and communication since his taking office in May 2008, China absolutely treats the cross-strait relations and cross-strait military affairs respectively. As facing continuous military offense threats from China, and sandwiched between two mighty powers United States and China, how could Taiwan survive in the tight corner will be the very key issue for Taiwan future.