Relationship dossier
People's Republic of China
Taiwan
Relationship assessment
Economic and practical links coexist with a deep sovereignty dispute and sustained military pressure.
People's Republic of China toward Taiwan
-75The PRC claims Taiwan as part of its territory, opposes Taiwanese independence, and has used diplomatic pressure and military activity around the island. It has also maintained cross-strait economic links and supported exchanges and cooperation at various times, including during periods of cross-strait dialogue.
Taiwan toward People's Republic of China
+15Taiwan’s governments have maintained separate governing institutions and resisted Beijing’s sovereignty claims while pursuing practical engagement with the PRC. The 2010 Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement and related cross-strait arrangements under the Ma administration were concrete forms of cooperation; later administrations have maintained a more guarded approach.
Overall relationship
-60The enduring relationship combines substantial economic and practical links with a fundamental dispute over sovereignty and Taiwan’s political status. Cross-strait agreements and exchanges have created channels for cooperation, but Beijing’s opposition to Taiwanese independence and recurring military pressure have made the relationship persistently adversarial overall.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
The relationship is shaped by the PRC’s claim to Taiwan, Taiwan’s self-government, and the PRC’s longstanding opposition to formal Taiwanese independence. Beijing has used diplomatic pressure and military activity around Taiwan while also maintaining economic links and at times supporting cross-strait exchanges. Taiwan’s governments have pursued unofficial engagement and economic arrangements with the PRC while maintaining separate government institutions and resisting Beijing’s sovereignty claims. The balance of cooperation and confrontation has varied across administrations.
Areas of tension
- The PRC’s claim of sovereignty over Taiwan and Taiwan’s separate self-government.
- Beijing’s opposition to Taiwanese independence and Taiwan’s international participation.
- PRC military activity around Taiwan and Taiwan’s security.
- Disputes over the scope and terms of cross-strait dialogue and agreements.
Key developments
The PRC enacted the Anti-Secession Law, setting out a legal basis for opposing Taiwanese independence and authorizing non-peaceful means under specified conditions.
The PRC and Taiwan signed the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, establishing a framework for closer cross-strait economic cooperation.
Major uncertainties
- The extent and implementation of cross-strait agreements and economic restrictions have varied over time.
- The future scope of official or unofficial cross-strait communication remains uncertain.