A NEW-WORLD PERSPECTIVE FOR THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Abstract

As the Republic of China (ROC) enters into the 1990s, its political system is under tremendous pressure to adapt to its changing internal and external environments. The purposes of this article are: to present the arguments as to why the ROC urgently needs a new world perspective; to propose a new outlook for the ROC toward its external environment, and finally, to identify the areas wherein the ROC must develop new perspectives, so as to charter a course of policy planning which will be beneficent, not only for the government and people in Taiwan, but also for the Chinese people as a whole. Following a detailed analysis of the internal situation as well as the external environment of the ROC, this article puts forward a series of suggestions regarding a new world perspective for the ROC. First, it argues for a positive and active policy toward mainland China aimed at "peaceful transformation," while putting off political negotiation until a later date. Second, it suggests the adoption of the "multi-system nations" concept coupled with the application of "dual recognition" schemes as a progressive strategy for expanding the diplomatic front of the ROC. And finally, the author reminds the leaders of the ROC government that elite solidarity and future-oriented policy planning are the two key factors which will determine whether or not the ROC will successfully overcome its present and future challenges and pave the way for a higher level of national development in the twenty-first century.