Modelling the Diversity of EU Members' Paths to European Integration and Policy Implications for Taiwan–China Relations

Datos Bibliográficos

ID12736765
AutoresChih‐Mei Luo (0000-0002-7293-9207, National Taipei University, autor de correspondencia)
Año2011
Volumen19
Número2
Páginas273-291
Fecha de publicación2011-06-01
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Contemporary European Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1478-2790 • E-ISSN: 1478-2804
EditorialTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14782804.2011.580916
OpenAlexW2030126077
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas11

This paper investigates the diverse approaches of EU members' integration with the EU through modelling, and assesses the applicability of each model to Taiwan-China relations. Building upon two variables: 'the association with national identity and reorientation or not', and 'being the leading or founding member or not' four EU members' integrative models stand out. The German model is proved to be the most integrationist, followed by the Finnish and the French models. The UK model appears to be the least committed. Due to sovereignty controversies, the visionary German and French models are not applicable to Taiwan–China integrations and the prospects are for the pragmatic Finnish model at best, and the UK model at worst. These modelling outcomes can then explain why the growing economic integration between the two sides has not produced spillover effects into the political arena. This paper therefore argues that it would be in China's interest to make Taiwan an equal leading player in Taiwan–China integrations, and to transform its 'one-China policy' from the current political and sovereignty contents to a cultural and value-laden concept. Among the theories being examined, (neo)realist-constructivism demonstrates more applicability than two mainstream integration theories - neofunctionalism and intergovernmentalism. Keywords: European integrationTaiwan–China relationsintegrative models(neo)realist-constructivism Notes 1 Simon Bulmer (Citation1989) called such a fundamental consensus on European integration shared among German political elites and public opinion as 'Europeanization' of German politics. 2 Refer to (2004) for more debates and discussions on realist-constructivism. 3 Some scholars see the relative equal size of France and Germany as an important variable in initiating European integration in the 1950s and the disproportionate size of Taiwan compared to China may be an issue to be concerned with. This paper, however, does not see the size issue as influencing as the two variables singled out in this research. As the history demonstrates, the Benelux states are much smaller in comparison with France and Germany and this size factor does not prevent them from founding the ECSC along with the two big neighbours in the first place; neither does it discourage them from actively participating in European integration and proposing weighty plans and ideas for this movement thereafter. 4 According to the latest official survey in March 2008, 81.7 per cent of public opinions were against this formula, and only 13.2 per cent were in support. See the ROC (Taiwan) Mainland Affairs Council (Citation2008b) for details. 5 Refer to Ma (Citation2005) for more details. 6 The Consensus is that, on the subject of the 'One China principle', both sides recognize there is only one China—both mainland China and Taiwan belong to the same China, but agree to differ on the definition of that one China. 7 The then KMT's Director of the Mainland Affairs, Hung Hui-Cheng, clarified later the concept of 'special state-to-state relations' with China being consistent with the 1992 Consensus as it did not violate the one-China principle. It was an attempt of repackaging such a consensus with a more truthful description of the current status of Taiwan–China relations. 8 The newly elected KMT president, Ma Ying-Jeou, indicated in an interview that 'reunification between Taiwan and China will not happen in our lifetime' (see China Times, Citation 2008 ). 9 In 2001, the DPP government opened up direct trade and travelling to be started between Taiwan's Kinmen, an island near China, and China's Xiamen

China · Diversity (politics · Economic geography · Economics · European integration · European union · Geography · International trade · Political science · Regional science · European Politics and Security · European Union Policy and Governance · International Relations and Foreign Policy

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