Crossstrait

Crossstrait refers to matters concerning relations across the Taiwan Strait, between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (Taiwan). It encompasses political, economic, cultural, and security issues arising from contact between the PRC and Taiwan, as well as the broader international diplomacy shaped by cross-strait dynamics.

The term is used in policy debates and media to describe interactions, negotiations, and disputes between the two sides. The PRC regards Taiwan as part of one China and seeks eventual unification, while Taiwan’s government and political parties have varied stances, ranging from eventual reunification to maintaining the status quo or pursuing formal independence. The two sides maintain informal and semi-official channels, notably the Straits Exchange Foundation in Taiwan and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits in Mainland China, with discussions sometimes grounded in the so‑called 1992 Consensus, a term used to describe tacit understandings about “one China, with different interpretations.”

Economic and cultural ties have grown over time, including trade, investment, tourism, and direct cross-strait links such as mail, trade, and transportation, collectively referred to as the “three links.” The Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) and other accords have facilitated exchanges, though political friction remains and negotiation can be constrained by broader domestic and international considerations.

In regional security, cross-strait relations influence stability in East Asia and affect the policies of third parties, including United States posture toward the Taiwan Strait. The topic remains a focal point of electoral and diplomatic discourse in both Taiwan and mainland China, as well as in regional diplomacy.