Though the governments of mainland China and Taiwan have had no official contact for decades, since 1987 they have maintained increasingly intricate relations with each other through "people-to-people," unofficial diplomacy. In this book, Ralph Clough describes this rapidly changing relationship, analyzing the strategies and policies of the governments in Beijing and Taipei regarding informal diplomacy and the ultimate reunification of Taiwan with mainland China, a goal to which both governments subscribe.Throughout the book, the author looks at unofficial relations between the two countries in such areas as travel; trade and investment; media, sports, and cultural exchanges; and the problems created for each country by piracy, smuggling, and illegal immigration across the Taiwan Strait. In addition to discussing Taiwan's efforts to improve its international status and the PRC's attempts to block them, Clough shows how cross-Strait relations have been affected by the transition from authoritarian to democratic government in Taiwan, where the newly founded opposition party has vigorously advocated Taiwan independence. The author concludes by assessing the implications of the evolving relationship between Taiwan and the PRC for the United States.In addition to the book's importance for all those interested in the economy and international relations of East Asia, it is a valuable case study of strategies for maintaining and improving governmental ties even in the absence of official contact. Read Less