The presentation was organized by the Ā鶹ӳ»­“«Ć½ Global Perspectives Office and held during a special open meeting of Ā鶹ӳ»­“«Ć½ LIFE. The program was part of the 2011-2012 theme, ā€œPeople Power, Politics and Global Change.ā€

In his overview of cross-strait relations, Kastner ā€“ an associate professor at the University of Maryland ā€“ outlined the historical impediments that have led to the current stalemate over Taiwanā€™s political status. Since the Chinese Nationalist Party, the Kuomintang, fled to the island in 1949 and established the Republic of China, there has been a struggle over whether the island is technically a part of the Peopleā€™s Republic of China on the mainland, Kastner said.

Until recently, Taiwanā€™s internal debate over its political status had been a severe irritant to China, which considers the island a province. Kastner discussed how other countries, such as the United States, play a role in maintaining a precarious power balance in the region.

Taiwanā€™s current president, Ma Ying-jeou, has been able to ring in ā€œa new era of more constructive cross-strait relations with a policy of ā€œThree Noesā€ ā€“ no unification, no independence and no use of force,ā€ Kastner said. Citing results of multiple national surveys, he indicated that many Taiwanese prefer the status quo, which leaves the question of the islandā€™s status for future generations.

Taiwanā€™s presidential election Saturday may determine the course of future relations between the two governments, Kastner said.Ā  Ma supports continuing the ā€œThree Noesā€ policy, while opposition candidate Tsai Ing-wen fears Taiwan has grown too dependent on China in recent years.

One audience member, who referred to himself as a Chinese-American from Taiwan, underscored the importance of the election, and said he would be flying there this weekend to cast his vote.

Another audience member mentioned that, beyond politics, there is an unresolved question of identity, which is an emotional issue driving both sides that cannot be forgotten or overlooked.

In addition to the Global Perspectives Office and Ā鶹ӳ»­“«Ć½ LIFE, sponsors and partners included the Ā鶹ӳ»­“«Ć½ China-Taiwan Cross-Strait Program, C.T. Hsu and Associates, the Ā鶹ӳ»­“«Ć½ Political Science Department, The Chinese American Scholars & Professionals Association of Florida, and the Global Connections Foundation.

Kastner will give a presentation entitled ā€œBetween Conflict and Peace: Contemporary Relations Across the Taiwan Straitā€ at 9 a.m. in the Pegasus Ballroom of the Student Union. The topic is of particular timeliness in light of Taiwanā€™s closely contested presidential election Jan. 14.

The free event, organized by the Ā鶹ӳ»­“«Ć½ Global Perspectives Office, in cooperation with Ā鶹ӳ»­“«Ć½ LIFE, is part of the 2011-2012 themes of ā€œPeople Power, Politics and Global Change.ā€

Kastner is the author of ā€œPolitical Conflict and Economic Interdependence across the Taiwan Strait and Beyond.ā€ He is an associate professor in the Department of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland, where he teaches courses on the international politics of East Asia, U.S.-China-Taiwan relations, and international relations theory and East Asia.

Previously, Kastner served as the China Security Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University, and as a visiting research fellow in the Princeton-Harvard China and the World Program at Princeton University.

Kastner has written numerous peer-reviewed journal articles on China-Taiwan Cross-Strait relations in publications such as International Security, Security Studies, Journal of Conflict Resolution, and Journal of East Asian Studies.

In addition to the Global Perspectives Office and Ā鶹ӳ»­“«Ć½ LIFE, sponsors and partners include the Ā鶹ӳ»­“«Ć½ China-Taiwan Cross-Strait Program, C.T. Hsu and Associates, the Ā鶹ӳ»­“«Ć½ Political Science Department, The Chinese American Scholars & Professionals Association of Florida and the Global Connections Foundation.