Conclusion

Abstract

The state of cross-Strait relations is decided by the intertwined economic and political logics undergirding party politics in Taiwan. While the trend of the cross-Strait ties—progress or withdrawal—depends on which political party is in power, the variation of mainland policies under different administrations could be neutralized by political convergence in Taiwan’s party politics. If the two parties converge in their mainland policies in the future, one can expect a less dramatic change of the state of cross-Strait relations in the wake of power turnover in Taiwan. In other words, observation of convergent or divergent party politics in Taiwan, in addition to electoral outcome, is instructive to observe the pulse of dynamic cross-Strait relations in the years to come.