Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 February 2009
Taiwan entered the international spotlight in 1996. No longer seen as just an economic powerhouse and diplomatic dilemma, the Republic of China on Taiwan (ROCOT) caught international attention in two new dimensions: politics and security. In March the ROCOT's first ever direct presidential election took place against the backdrop of unprecedented military coercion from the People's Republic of China (PRC). The world watched nervously as Taiwan's presidential candidates campaigned while Chinese missiles landed near the island's two major ports and air and naval forces of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) held live-fire exercises in the Taiwan Strait.
1 See Vuylsteke, Richard R.,“A research field comes of age,” Free China Review(February 1994),4–43.Google Scholar
2 1996 data cited in John, Pomfret,“Taiwan-China ties hinge on Presidents,” The Washington Post,25 February1997, p. All.Google Scholar