Introduction Part 1: Does the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement have spillover effects in political relations? 1. The Spillover Effect of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement and Its Implications for Cross-Strait Relations 2. Economic Interests in Taiwan’s Cross-Strait Policy and Linkages to National Identity: Has the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement Opened the Way to a Political Solution? 3. The Nature of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement and Its Implications for Peaceful Development of Cross Strait Relations: Perspectives from the Mainland Part 2: Why the political stalemate is so hard to break? 4. Beijing's Evolving Policy and Strategic Thinking on Taiwan 5. Cross-Strait Confidence Building Measures: Prospects and Implications 6. Diplomatic Truce in cross-Strait relations: Limits and Prospects 7. Politics in command of the Mainland's Military Policy toward Taiwan Part 3: Social Dimension of Cross-Strait Relations 8. Interest, Identity, and People's Preference on Taiwan's Independence Issue 9. Bidding for Taiwanese Hearts: Evaluating the Achievement of China’s Economic Statecraft against Taiwan 10. Social Dimensions of Changing Cross-Strait relations: the Case of Taishang Part 4: Whither cross-Strait Relations? 11. The United States and the Changing Cross-Strait Relations 12. Peaceful Unification vs. Divided Rule: Assessing Political Relations across the Taiwan Strait 13. Prospects of Cross-Strait Relations: Toward an Involutionary Process?