Abstract
SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR, THE POTENTIALLY OIL-RICH SPRATLY (NANSHA) ISLANDS HAVE BECOME A FLASHPOINT IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC. AS DEMOCRATIZATION TAKES ROOT IN TAIWAN, THE RULING PARTY’S SOUTH CHINA SEA POLICY WILL COME UNDER MORE SERIOUS SCRUTINY AND POLICYMAKING WILL BE MORE VOLATILE. THE POLICY WILL LARGELY REMAIN SUBTLE AND AMBIGUOUS IN THE YEARS AHEAD, AS TAIWAN DOES NOT WANT TO PROVOKE EITHER CHINA OR THE ASEAN CLAIMANTS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA BECAUSE IT IS TRYING TO IMPROVE ITS RELATIONS WITH BOTH. TAIWAN AGREES WITH THE ASEAN DECLARATION ON THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.