馬英九總統於 2008年上台之後提出「活路外交」的外交政策，而單方面的「外交休兵」則成為它的最大內涵，其具體表現在不再擴展邦交國，以期換取中國給予台灣「國際空間」。然而本研究發現「活路外交」或「外交休兵」均是一種似是而非的謎思，而在此政策下，外交人員不知「為何而戰」？「為誰而戰」？外交螺絲也鬆動了，外交人員的狀況層出不窮。而馬政府執政以來所自誇耀的外交成就，均是來自於中國的默許，但卻是都在一個中國的框架或原則上進行，我們所得到是國際空間，非屬主權國家所有的外交空間，而且以我國主權的流失為代價，若與陳水扁政府相較，也不算進步。更令人憂心的是，由於馬政府外交政策的不妥，將來如果中國對台灣的政治要脅不能如願的話，中國將展開外交攻勢，屆時，台灣邦交國恐會大大流失，甚至造成外交全面崩盤，這也將是所謂「活路外交」與「外交休兵」惡果的展現。

President Ma Ying-jeou has imposed a new policy of “viable diplomacy” since he took over in May 2008. And so-called the “diplomatic truce” strategy has been the guideline to Ma’s China policy internationally. In other words, Taiwan cannot – and will not – conceive a comprehensive plan and design all the programs to build any new diplomatic ties with the outside world for exchanging any international space not blocked by China. The essay assesses the “diplomatic achievements” of Ma’s administration for the past seven years and found that both “viable diplomacy” and “diplomatic truce” seem to be only political myths. The achievements, compared with the previous administration, turned out to be much progress at all. Moreover, these “achievements” have been based on Beijing’s concession and are at the cost of compromise in sovereignty. Due to the principle of “One China” policy internationally, Taiwan’s only made stride in international space, not in diplomatic front. Under such circumstance, we can anticipate a diplomatic collapse in the post-Ma Ying-jeou era when Taiwan disappoints China on cross-strait relations.