Abstract

China's position as a world power is now well established and much has been written about its rapid economic expansion. With this growth, China is exerting more influence and pressure in Asia and the rest of the world. An ever-present and always contentious issue for the mainland and the United States is the status of Taiwan. Taiwanese businessmen have participated and benefited from China's growth, but issues of citizenship and full participation in world affairs have only become more problematic for the island's population at large. As China continues to grow stronger and become even more linked with the US, Taiwan must work harder to maintain the balance between its interests, and the larger concerns of both its allies and adversaries.