Paradiplomacy as a response to international isolation: the case of Taiwan

Although the importance of non-state actors in international relations is now widely acknowledged, formal state-to-state ties remain an essential measure of a state's strength in the international community. When traditional components of sovereignty are eroded, what options remain open to stat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pacific review 2023-07, Vol.36 (4), p.784-812
Main Author: Newland, Sara A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Case studies
China
city and state politics
Diplomacy
Federalism
Foreign policy
International community
International relations
Non-state actors
Policy making
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Sovereignty
State
Statehood
Strength
trade
United States
US-Taiwan relations
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Summary:Although the importance of non-state actors in international relations is now widely acknowledged, formal state-to-state ties remain an essential measure of a state's strength in the international community. When traditional components of sovereignty are eroded, what options remain open to states seeking to forestall international isolation? Drawing on a case study of Taiwan, this paper explores the potential and the pitfalls of using paradiplomacy as a substitute for traditional diplomacy. I argue that Taiwan uses paradiplomacy for three primary purposes: as a 'hedge' against weakness in the central-level US-Taiwan relationship; as a tool for developing long-term relationships with rising political stars; and as a performative strategy for asserting Taiwan's statehood by showing others that it acts like a state. While paradiplomacy enables Taiwan to strengthen ties to US policymakers, these efforts have become increasingly complicated as mainland Chinese influence on local US politics increases. This paper thus sheds light on paradiplomacy in the US-Taiwan relationship, but also on the ways in which American federalism can complicate US foreign policy toward East Asia.
ISSN:0951-2748
1470-1332
DOI:10.1080/09512748.2022.2025889