Words Across the Taiwan Strait

Book excerpt: In August 1993, the Taiwan Affairs Office and Information Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China published a document called 'The Taiwan Question and the Reunification of China.' This 24-page pamphlet, or booklet, subsequently became known as Beijing's 'White Paper' on Taiwan. Strongly advocating Taiwan's reunification with mainland China, the paper appeared to reflect the People's Republic of China's opposition to the Republic of China making a bid to participate in the United Nations or other international governmental organizations. In this volume, John Copper offers his analysis and critique of Beijing's 'White Paper.' Included in the appendices are the text of the original white paper, Taiwan's response to the document and Taiwan's guidelines for national unification.