Development of ROC-France relations: The case of an isolated state and itseconomic diplomacy

This paper attempts to assess the possibility of the Republic of China (ROC ) challenging ifs diplomatic isolation by economic means, taking as an exam ple the case of the ROC's efforts to develop relations with France. The his torical origin of Taiwan's isolation leads to the central hypothesis that R OC-France relations will be determined by two major factors, i.e., the ROC' s campaign to promote relations via different types of economic diplomacy a nd the People's Republic of China's (PRC's) ability to undermine the ROC's efforts. The study find's that despite the fact that the ROC's efforts have met with various responses from France, the PRC remains a powerful adversa ry in this diplomatic war: France may have agreed to upgrade relations with the ROC, but has not attempted to entirely normalize relations so as not t o irritate the PRC. A state forced into isolation, in the case of the ROC, may thus be forced to seek a certain degree of accommodation with its main isolator.