Managing China's Sovereignty in Hong Kong and Taiwan

Is China always defensive about its sovereignty issues? Does China see sovereignty essentially as 'absolute,' 'Victorian,' or 'Westphalian?' Sow Keat Tok suggests that Beijing has a more nuanced and flexible policy towards 'sovereignty' than previously assumed. By comparing China's changing policy towards Taiwan and Hong Kong, the author relates the role of previous conceptions of the world order in China's conception of modern 'sovereignty', thereby uncovers Beijing's deepest concern when dealing with its sovereignty issues.

Sow Keat Tok is lecturer at the Asia Institute, The University of Melbourne, Australia. He previously worked at the Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation (CSGR) and the Department of Politics and International Studies (PAIS) in University of Warwick, UK, the China Policy Institute, University of Nottingham, UK, and East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore.

Introduction: Renegotiating China's Sovereignty in Contemporary Politics
1. China and the Concept of Sovereignty
2. Walking the Walk and Talking the Talk: 'Sovereignty' in China's Academia
3. Imagining One Sovereign: 'Sovereignty' in China's Political Discourse
4. Accommodating Two Governances under One Sovereignty: HKSAR's Domestic Sphere and International Space
5. China's Management of Taiwan's International Space
Conclusion: Revisiting the Assumption on China's Behaviour towards Sovereignty Issues