Taiwan nation-state or province

Includes bibliographical references (p. 251-260) and index.

Preface -- Acronyms -- Map of Taiwan -- 1: Land And The People -- Physical setting -- Climate, soil, and natural resources -- Population -- Ethnic groups -- Culture -- Transportation and communications -- Media -- Tourism -- Notes -- 2: History -- Prehistory and early history -- Western and Chinese rule -- Part of the Japanese empire -- World War II -- Part of China again -- Taiwan as the Republic of China -- Taiwan ruled by Chiang Ching-kuo -- Taiwan under Lee Teng-hui -- Chen Shui-bian's Taiwan -- Notes -- 3: Society -- Social structure and order -- Ethnic issues -- Languages and religions -- Early forces of social change -- Economic development and social change -- Education -- Social welfare -- Other social problems -- Notes -- 4: Political System -- Political culture and tradition -- Constitution -- National assembly and the presidency -- Five-branch government -- Local government -- Political parties -- Elections -- Ideology, modernization, and the future -- Notes -- 5: Economy -- Economy to 1950 -- Economic recovery and boom: 1950-2000 -- Economic growth strategies -- Key industries and the Taiwan "economic miracle" -- Labor force -- Trade, investment, and energy -- Model of economic development -- Economy under Chen Shui-bian -- Notes -- 6: Foreign And Military Policies -- Background -- Diplomatic decline and partial recovery -- Domestic affairs and foreign policy -- Taiwan's national security policy -- Taiwan and the United States -- Taiwan and the People's Republic of China -- Taiwan and the rest of the world -- Ties with international organizations -- Notes -- 7: Future -- Beginning assumptions -- External or global variables -- Internal or domestic variables -- Alternative futures -- Summing up -- Selected bibliography -- Index.

From the Publisher: In this newly revised and updated edition of Taiwan: Nation-State or Province?, author John Copper examines Taiwan's geography and history, society and culture, economy, political system, and foreign and security policies in the context of its uncertain political status: whether a sovereign nation or a province of the People's Republic of China. Copper argues that Taiwan's rapid and successful democratization suggests that it should be independent and separate from China, while increasingly important economic links between Taiwan and China indicate the opposite. New to the fifth edition is enhanced coverage of the issues of an aging population, immigration, Taiwan's loss of diplomatic status, and its improving commercial-though not political-relations with China. The new edition also examines the implications of the Chen Shui-bian administration and the 2008 presidential election.