Targeted Sanctions with Chinese Characteristics and “Green Taishang”

• Published in: Pacific focus 2021, 36(3), , pp.488-511
• Main Author: Cheng, Hyunwook
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case studies; Consumers; cross‐Strait relations; Democratic Progressive Party; Economic factors; Independence; Internet; Nationalism; one China policy; Sanctions; Taiwan independence; targeted sanctions; 정치외교학
• ISSN: 1225-4657; 1976-5118
• DOI: 10.1111/pafo.12195

This study explores the recent features of China's economic coercion against Taiwan by offering an up‐to‐date and in‐depth analysis of China's targeted sanctions on Taishang in Tsai Ing‐wen's first term. The paper elaborates on China's specific reasons and means for imposing informal targeted sanctions, as well as their newly observed features in comparison with the past. Heavy dependence on the Chinese economy by certain enterprises of the island has made them vulnerable to sanction targeting. Compared to the past, nationalist boycotts by Chinese consumers and online activities have had a greater influence as part of China's informal targeted sanctions. Beijing's demands for supporting the “one China” policy and the “1992 Consensus” have also become more obvious. These findings suggest that the impetus for developing the cross‐Strait economic exchanges has become more susceptible to the effects of non‐economic factors. Although Beijing's sanctions on Taishang have not yet changed Taipei's policy, they cannot be said to be ineffective. Through the tactics, Beijing definitely sends clear signals of what it wants as it advances their strategy on cross‐Strait relations to the outside world. The case studies on Taiwan provide important implications for other economies as a barometer of China's increasing economic sanction practices.