This article focuses on the role and position of Chinese nationalism in the China–Taiwan relationship. Through discourse analysis, it aims to contend with the frequently presented picture in the literature on Chinese nationalism, that is, that nationalism in China is (almost) omnipresent and omnipotent. In the article, nationalism is presented as a broad but nuanced phenomenon. By its very nature, nationalism is a multi-edged sword whose ‘edges’ have the potential to be positive and constructive in certain situations, as shown in China’s approach to Taiwan in which nationalism plays an enabling role in a relatively important way. However, the article reveals a hierarchy in the concepts upon which China’s official discourse is based. In doing so, it disentangles and separates the role of two key concepts—nationalism and sovereignty—which are generally seen as almost interchangeable. Ethics, morality and kinship in Chinese nationalism - as presented by China’s official discourse in the relation to Taiwan - are subordinated to the politics of sovereignty.
ARATS. 2005. ‘Wang Daohan Huijian Zhongguo Guomindang Zhuxi Lian Zhan Yixing’ [Wang Daohan Met with Chinese KMT Chairman Lian Zhan and his Delegation], http://www.arats.com.cn/huodong/200806/t20080624_678463.htm (accessed on 30August2016).
2.
ARATS. 2008. ‘Chen Yunlin Kaocha Sichuan Dizhen Zaiqu Tai Bao Yuanzhu Chongjian Xiangmu’ [Chen Yunlin Visits Taiwan Compatriots in Sichuan Earthquake Reconstruction Aid Projects], http://www.arats.com.cn/huodong/200809/t20080922_750684.htm (accessed on 29August2016).
3.
BarabantsevaElena. 2011. ‘Beyond World Order: Change in China’s Negotiations Over the World’, in CallahanWilliamBarabantsevaElena (eds), China Orders the World: Normative Soft Power and Foreign Policy. Washington, D.C.: Woodrow Wilson Center Press and The Johns Hopkins University Press, 183–214.
4.
BillioudSébastien. 2007. ‘Confucianism, “Cultural Tradition,” and Official Discourse in China at the Start of the New Century’, China Perspectives, Vol. 3, 50–65.
5.
CallahanWilliam. 2004. Contingent States: Greater China and Transnational Relations. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
6.
CallahanWilliam. 2010. China: The Pessoptimist Nation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
7.
CallahanWilliam. 2013. China Dreams: 20 Visions of the Future. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
8.
CarlsonAllen. 2009. ‘A Flawed Perspective. The Limitations Inherent Within the Study of Chinese Nationalism’, Nations and Nationalism, Vol. 15, No. 1, 20–35.
9.
ChangMaria Hsia. 2001. Return of the Dragon: China’s Wounded Nationalism. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
10.
ChenJian. 1996. ‘Understanding the Logic of Beijing’s Taiwan Policy’, Security Dialogue, Vol. 27, No. 4, 459–62.
11.
ChenJieZhongYangHillardJanSchebJohn. 1997. ‘Assessing Political Support in China: Citizens’ Evaluations of Governmental Effectiveness and Legitimacy’, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 16, No. 6, 551–66.
12.
CheungKelvin Chi-Kin. 2012. ‘Away from Socialism, Towards Chinese Characteristics. Confucianism and the Futures of Chinese Nationalism’, China Information, Vol. 26, No. 2, 205–18.
CongXiaoping. 2013. ‘Road to Revival: A New Move in the Making of Legitimacy for the Ruling Party in China’, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 22, No. 83, 905–22.
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America. 2003. The 8-Point Proposition Made by President Jiang Zemin on China’s Reunification. Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America, http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/zt/twwt/t36736.htm (accessed on 27August2016).
FriedmanEdward. 1997. ‘Chinese Nationalism, Taiwan Autonomy and the Prospects of a Larger War’, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 6, No. 14, 5–32.
20.
GarverJohn W.2016. China’s Quest: The History of the Foreign Relations of the People’s Republic of China. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
21.
GilleyBruceHolbigHeike. 2009. ‘The Debate on Party Legitimacy in China: A Mixed Quantitative/Qualitative Analysis’, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 18, No. 59, 339–59.
22.
GriesPeter Hays. 2004. China’s New Nationalism: Pride, Politics, and Diplomacy. Berkeley: University of California Press.
23.
GuoYingjie. 2003. Cultural Nationalism in Contemporary China. London and New York: Routledge.
24.
HansenLene. 2006. Security as Practice: Discourse Analysis and the Bosnian War. London and New York: Routledge.
25.
HickeyDennisVanVranken. 2007. Foreign Policy Making in Taiwan: From Principle to Pragmatism. London and New York: Routledge.
HuJintao.2005a. Build Towards a Harmonious World of Lasting Peace and Common Prosperity. Speech at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the United Nations’ 60th Session, New York, www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjdt/zyjh/t213091.htm (accessed on 8April2015).
HughesChristopher R.1997. Taiwan and Chinese Nationalism. National Identity and Status in International Society. London and New York: Routledge.
31.
HughesChristopher R.2006. Chinese Nationalism in the Global Era. London: Routledge.
32.
HughesChristopher R.2008. ‘Japan in the Politics of Chinese Leadership Legitimacy: Recent Developments in Historical Perspective’, Japan Forum, Vol. 20, No. 2, 245–66.
33.
IgnatieffMichael. 1993. Blood and Belonging: Journey into the New Nationalism. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.
34.
JiangZemin.1995. Continue to Promote the Reunification of the Motherland. Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the UN, 30January1995. http://www.china-un.org/eng/zt/twwt/t28921.htm (accessed on 28August2016).
KanShirley A.2014. China/Taiwan: Evolution of the ‘One China’ Policy—Key Statements from Washington, Beijing, and Taipei. Washington, D.C.: CRS Report for Congress.
LeeWei-Chin. 1999. ‘One Talk, Two Tables: A Study of the 1998 Koo-Wang Meeting Across the Taiwan Strait’, Journal of Chinese Political Science, Vol. 5, No. 2, 1–34.
NPC Standing Committee. 1979. N.P.C. Standing Committee Message to Compatriots in Taiwan. Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Papua New Guinea. http://pg.china-embassy.org/eng/xwdt/t47221.htm (accessed on 28August2016).
41.
PhillipsNelsonHardyCynthia. 2002. Discourse Analysis. Investigating Processes of Social Construction. London: SAGE Publications.
42.
QingCao. 2007. ‘Confucian Vision of a New World Order?’, The International Communication Gazette, Vol. 69, No. 5, 431–50.
RoškerJana. 2014. ‘China’s Modernisation. From Daring Reforms to a Modern Confucian Revival of Traditional Values’, Anthropological Notebooks, Vol. 20, No. 2, 89–102.
46.
SmithAnthony D.1991. National Identity. Reno: University of Nevada Press.
47.
State Council of the PRC. 1993. The Taiwan Question and Reunification of China. State Council of the People’s Republic of China. http://www.china.org.cn/e-white/taiwan/index.htm (accessed on 27August2016).
48.
State Council of PRC. 2003. China’s Policy on “Three Direct Links” Across the Taiwan Straits. State Council of the People’s Republic of China. http://www.china.org.cn/e-white/20050816/index.htm (accessed on 27August2016).
49.
WangZheng. 2008. ‘National Humiliation, History Education, and the Politics of Historical Memory: Patriotic Education Campaign in China’, International Studies Quarterly, Vol. 52, No. 4, 783–806.
50.
WangZheng. 2012. Never Forget National Humiliation: Historical Memory in Chinese Politics and Foreign Relations. New York: Columbia University Press.
Xinhua. 2009a. China’s Ethnic Policy and Common Prosperity and Development of All Ethnic Groups. Information Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. http://www.china.org.cn/government/whitepaper/node_7078073.htm (accessed on 8April2015).
Xinhua. 2009b. ‘Jiang Bingkun: Liang’an Ying Jiangou Jingji Wenhua Shehui Deng Liangxing Hudong Jizhi’ [Chiang Pin-kung: Construction of Cross-Strait Interaction Mechanism Should Be Economic, Cultural and Social], Xinhua, 26April2009, http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2009-04/26/content_11258701.htm (accessed on 27August2016).
64.
Xinhua. 2009c. ‘Haixia Liang’an Gongtong Daji Fanzui Ji Sifa Huzhu Xieyi’ [Agreements on Cross-Strait Common Fight Against Crime and Mutual Legal Assistance], Xinhua, 26April2009, http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2009-04/26/content_11260584.htm (accessed on 27August2016).
Xinhua. 2015a. ‘Xi Jinping Qiangdiao: Jianchi Liang’an Guanxi Heping Fazhan Daolu Cujin Gongtong Fazhan Zaofu Liang’an Tongbao’ [Xi Jinping Stressed: Adhere to the Road of Peaceful Development of Cross-Straits Relations and Promote Common Development for the Benefit of Compatriots on Both Sides], 4March, 2015, http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-03/04/c_1114523248.htm (accessed on 30August2016).
67.
Xinhua. 2015b. ‘Xi Jinping Zong Shuji Huijian Taiwan Gejie Daibiao Renshi’ [General Secretary Xi Jinping Met with Representatives from All Circles in Taiwan], Xinhua, 1September2015, http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-09/01/c_1116437316.htm (accessed on 30August2016).
ZengJinghan. 2014. ‘The Debate on Regime Legitimacy in China: Bridging the Wide Gulf Between Western and Chinese Scholarship’, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 23, No. 88, 612–35.
70.
ZhaoSuisheng. 2004. A Nation-State by Construction: Dynamics of Modern Chinese Nationalism. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
71.
ZhengDahua. 2012. ‘On Modern Chinese Nationalism and Its Conceptualization’, Journal of Modern Chinese History, Vol. 6, No. 2, 217–34.
72.
ZhengYongnian. 1999. Discovering Chinese Nationalism in China: Modernization, Identity and International Relations. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press.
73.
ZhuGuobin. 2012. ‘The Composite State of China Under “One Country, Multiple Systems”: Theoretical Construction and Methodological Considerations’, International Journal of Constitutional Law, Vol. 10, No. 1, 272–97.
74.
ZuoYana. 2016. Evolving Identity and Politics and Cross-Strait Relations: Bridging Theories of International Relations and Nationalism. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
