Taiwan and U.S.-China Relations: Historical Perspectives on a Contemporary Flashpoint

Location
A2 Highfield House, Hybrid event, University Park
Date(s)
Thursday 14th November 2024 (16:00-17:30)
Contact

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Registration URL
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Description
James Lee 14 Nov 24

The University of Nottingham's Taiwan Research Hub presents a talk by

Dr James Lee, Assistant Research Professor at Academia Sinica in Taiwan.

Taiwan and U.S.-China Relations: Historical Perspectives on a Contemporary Flashpoint

Thursday,14 November 2024, 4 -5.30 pm, Room A2 Highfield House, University Park , Hybrid Event 

Talk abstract 

The dispute over Taiwan is an enduring flashpoint in international relations. Some analysts have predicted that a conflict will erupt in the next five years, potentially drawing the United States and U.S. allies and partners into a war with China. This presentation will examine contemporary tensions from a historical perspective. It will argue that the core of the U.S.-China bargain over Taiwan centers on three terms: “peaceful,” “unofficial,” and “status quo.” In the past, those words created the appearance of a mutual understanding on Taiwan, but Washington and Beijing never actually agreed on what those words meant. As China has become more powerful in recent years, it has been more assertive in defining those terms unilaterally, causing the bargain to unravel. This presentation will also discuss tensions in the Taiwan Strait from the perspective of the Taiwanese themselves, drawing on recent public opinion studies on perceptions of the challenge from Beijing and the credibility of the United States. 

About the speaker

James Lee (USA) is an Assistant Research Professor at Academia Sinica in Taiwan. He is also an Associate Fellow of the NATO Defense College and an Affiliated Researcher of the University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. His research focuses on U.S. foreign policy and the security of Taiwan. His research has been published in EurAmerica, Business and Politics, International Studies Quarterly, the Journal of East Asian Studies, the Journal of Strategic Studies, and the Journal of Chinese Political Science. He received his PhD from Princeton University and has held research positions at the European University Institute in Florence; the University of California, San Diego; and the NATO Defense College in Rome.

Chaired by

Dr Chun-yi Lee, Taiwan Research Hub, University of Nottingham

Taiwan Research Hub

University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD