Stormy Seas: Taiwan Under the Shadow of China in the 21st Century (Studies in Asian Security)

How can a small democracy resist the influence of a powerful authoritarian neighbor?Taiwan is frequently praised for its successful economic development and peaceful transition to democracy, serving as a model for other developing countries.However, it faces substantial challenges, both from internal political divisions and external geopolitical pressures.Taiwan's political landscape is shaped by several significant cleavages: national identity and ethnic disparities, economic inequality and class conflict, and generational and cultural differences.The greatest challenge to Taiwan's democracy comes from the influence of China, which has exploited these cleavages through economic leverage, propaganda, and political interference. Under the heavy influence of Beijing's sharp power, Taiwan's democracy often faces threats of regression.Whenever China escalates its tactics, Taiwan's civil society has mobilized in response, playing a crucial role in resisting Beijing's strategies and defendin