Tuesday 27 January, 13.30
Old Library, All Souls
Taiwan in China’s Strategic Thinking: From Mao to Xi
Professor Steve Tang
Taiwan is central to China’s global strategy, which was put in place by Xi Jinping. Taking Taiwan is now essential to the fulfillment of Xi’s China Dream of national rejuvenation. But this is new. Beijing’s declaration that Taiwan has always been and will always be part of China does not tally with the historical record of the Chinese Communist Party’s stance. From the 1920s to the 1940s, the Party advocated for the independence of Taiwan. This talk traces how the Chinese Communist Party has transformed its views on Taiwan and why Taiwan is today deemed to be of great strategic importance to China.
Steve Tsang is Professor of China Studies and Director of the China Institute at SOAS in London. He is also a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and an Emeritus Fellow of St Antony’s College at Oxford. He has published widely on the politics and history of China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. His most recent book is (with Olivia Cheung) The Political Thought of Xi Jinping (OUP, 2024). His new book (with Olivia Cheung) China’s Global Strategy under Xi Jinping will be released by OUP on 1 September 2026.
Seminars at 13.30, Old Library, All Souls
All are welcome, no need to book.
