北京對台政策含戰略及戰術兩層次。前者如「和平統一」、「一國兩制」「不放棄對台用武」幾乎有二十年沒有改變。後者如武力威脅、經濟吸附、文字攻擊、言詞緩和等經常作靈活的調整。影響北京調整對台戰術的因素有中國國內狀況、國際環境（尤其是對美關係）、台灣動態。西元九零年代有兩個正面和兩個負面的案例值得檢驗。

Beijing's Taiwan policy consists of two levels: strategy and tactics. The former-such as the "peaceful unification", "one country two systems", and the non-renunciation of the use of force-has been impressively consistent over almost two decades. However, the latter-such as military intimidation, economic enticement, verbal attacks, or softening of rhetoric-has been amazingly agile. The three major factors that seem to determine how Beijing adjust its tactics toward Taiwan are China's domestic condition, the international environment (Beijing-Washington relations in particular), and the Taiwan dynamics. Two positive cases, and two negative cases in the 1990s are examined.