Negotiating with Beijing: What Should Taipei and a Third Party Know?

Abstract

This article examines the People's Republic of China's dialectical negotiation process, including its method, conditions, form, style, nature, level, issues, time/timing/length, location, & concessions. It also discusses a third party's role in the negotiation between Taipei & Beijing. Although history does not repeat itself, what the Chinese Communists have done in the past could help us to understand their present negotiation theory & practice. In this article, I am proposing a dialectical negotiating model as contrasted with the more conventional "linear," sequential negotiating model proposed by Lucian W. Pye & Richard H. Solomon for understanding the People's Republic of China's negotiating pattern. Lack of understanding of this model creates a strong sense of distrust & mistrust between both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Taipei certainly does not want to give up its sovereign status nor does Beijing want to see Taiwan become an independent state.