Taiwan versus China: A Flashpoint for the Third World War? (HI3U1)
Module Convenor: Dr Song-Chuan Chen
Email, s.chen.64@warwick.ac.uk
Taiwan is a democratic, developed country, consistently ranked among the top ten in global democracy indexes, outperforming both the UK and the USA. What is Taiwan’s political formula for success? How has it blended elements of Western and Chinese cultures?
Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, Communist China has sought to “liberate” Taiwan, while the geopolitical West initially worked to defend “Free China” — as Taiwan was known during the Cold War in reference to the Republic of China (ROC), founded in 1911 and relocated to Taiwan after the Communist revolution. In the twenty-first century, safeguarding Taiwanese democracy has become a central concern for the future of the global order. At the same time, Taiwan’s economic development has made it a vital player in global supply chains, particularly through its semiconductor (chip) industry. Against this backdrop, the module asks: is the China–Taiwan conflict the latest front in a Chinese version of Cold War 2.0? Could it escalate into World War III?
We will examine the history of Taiwan, the evolving relations between Taiwan and China, its current geopolitical and geoeconomic significance, and possible future trajectories. In Term 1, we will establish a chronological framework for understanding Taiwan’s history. In Term 2, we will take a thematic approach, focusing on Taiwan–China relations and Taiwan’s role in global politics and the world economy .