Reappraising the debate and practice of US strategic ambiguity/clarity in cross-strait relations

Hsu, Szu-chien

doi:10.1080/09512741003624468

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Most dichotomies overlook the use of mixed strategies. Some scholars have noted that US policy-makers have positioned themselves in different positions along a continuum between strategic clarity and ambiguity in the history of US foreign policy (Hsu, 2010; Wu, 2021). Moreover, the existing recommendations appear to be an extension of the strategic ambiguity (Chang-Liao and Fang, 2021) because most of them do not match the rigid definition of strategic clarity.…”

Section: Theoretical Framework Of Us Taiwan Policymentioning

confidence: 99%

From Strategic Ambiguity to Maximum Pressure? Explaining the Logic of the US Taiwan Policy in the Post–Cold War Era

2021

Journal of Asian and African Studies

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How do changes in US Taiwan policy play out? What is the logic behind these changes? To address these questions, existing studies have formulated four schools of explanation, providing valuable theoretical insights. However, these studies have obvious problems with unidirectional dichotomy and thus fail to identify a causal mechanism explaining the long-term trajectory of US Taiwan policy. This article conducts a re-typology of US Taiwan policy to break the traditional strategic ambiguity–clarity dichotomy by establishing three key indicators and argues that the orientation of US China policy and Taiwan’s US policy are the two major factors triggering changes. By conceptualizing and operationalizing the two independent variables as engagement-oriented, coopetition-oriented, containment-oriented, and hedging/bandwagoning/binding, this article develops a systemic theoretical framework to demonstrate how the US Taiwan policy transits between strategic clarity, maximum pressure, partial strategic clarity, between partial strategic clarity and strategic ambiguity, strategic ambiguity, and controlling the pro-independent forces. This article conducts empirical studies by reviewing the transition of US Taiwan policy under different presidencies in post–Cold War era to demonstrate how the theoretical framework works in realpolitik.

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Section: Theoretical Framework Of Us Taiwan Policymentioning

confidence: 99%

From Strategic Ambiguity to Maximum Pressure? Explaining the Logic of the US Taiwan Policy in the Post–Cold War Era

2021

Journal of Asian and African Studies

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“…However, despite calls for greater clarity, on balance, the policy has served U.S. interests well and in general contributed to cross-Strait stability. In fact, succeeding administrations have for all practical purposes carried out policies that span over the spectrum of clarity at one end and ambiguity at the other (Hsu 2010;Kastner 2006). Despite recent debates among American Taiwan specialists on whether Washington should discontinue arms sales to Taiwan in exchange for a grand bargain with Beijing, or accept the "Finlandization" of Taiwan by China (C. Glaser 2015; Gilley 2010), the mainstream U.S. view is that Taiwan remains a critical linchpin in its "Pivot to Asia" strategy and an important strategic asset in the first island chain.…”

Section: China's Rise and Us Taiwan Policymentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-Strait Relations 2008–2016: Progress, Problems, and Prospects

Ji¹

2016

AJP

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Cross-Strait relations over the past eight years have witnessed noticeable improvement and contributed to peace and stability in the region. This article argues that Beijing and Taipei have yet to tackle more fundamental issues and move forward with political negotiations on the status of cross-Strait relations. The growing military imbalance over the past decade has eroded Taiwan's security and undermined its ability to negotiate with Beijing from a position of strength. With the DPP's Tsai winning the 2016 election and her refusal to formally embrace the "1992 Consensus, " tensions could flare up again. Washington remains committed to Taiwan's security through defense cooperation and arms sales, but its willingness to do so will be tested by a rising China determined to resolve the issue on its own terms.

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“…It would not be surprising that with such rhetoric, Asian states are expecting US to display its military might in Asia yet again, as how Bill Clinton reacted during the third Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1995-96 displaying one of the largest US military displays with the presence of numerous aircraft battle groups (Hsu, 2010). Obama's rhetoric has already caused damage, thus there is no single institution, nor global superpower that would be able to relieve China of its perception that US is forcefully containing it, and that US would interfere on regional conflicts located hundred of miles of the US mainland.…”

Section: Asia-pacific and The Rhetoric Of Coercivenessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Obama’s Legacy of Unfinished Businesses: Coercive Rhetoric and the Defiance of American Exceptionalism

Putra

2015

JIRFP

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The article explores the legacy of Obama's foreign policy based on the administration's engagement towards the defined 'core' foreign policy regions, aimed to renew the contemporary American identity. It argues how Obama's rhetoric in Asia-Pacific to rebalance the region has resulted to the adoption of an assertive and belligerent stance of China, with suspicions aimed at possible US coerciveness to undermine China's regional order and ambitions especially in the South China Sea. It further argues of Obama's failure to fully embrace the concept of American Exceptionalism in handling the contemporary power dynamics and anarchy of the Middle East, defying traditional US missionary policies with foreign policy elements of inconsistencies, cautiousness, and skepticism. Finally the article concludes of Obama's legacy with the continual regional disorders spurred by America's retreat in the Middle East, and China's belligerent rise in Asia.

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Reappraising the debate and practice of US strategic ambiguity/clarity in cross-strait relations

Cited by 6 publications

References 8 publications

From Strategic Ambiguity to Maximum Pressure? Explaining the Logic of the US Taiwan Policy in the Post–Cold War Era

From Strategic Ambiguity to Maximum Pressure? Explaining the Logic of the US Taiwan Policy in the Post–Cold War Era

Cross-Strait Relations 2008–2016: Progress, Problems, and Prospects

Obama’s Legacy of Unfinished Businesses: Coercive Rhetoric and the Defiance of American Exceptionalism

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