本文分為兩大部分，第一部份是對目前兩岸關係研究的文獻回顧。在研究兩岸關 係的文獻當中， 大致可以分為三類型的著作。 第一類是規範性的討論（ normative discussion ）， 第二類是描述性的分析（ descriptive analyses ），第三類是理論性的 建構（ theoretical formulations ）。規範性的討論目的在提供政策建議，因此是指向一 定的國家目標。描述性的分析著重於事實的陳述和資料的組織。理論性的建構則試圖用一般 化的概念和模式來解釋兩岸關係。在理論性的建構當中，可以分為三個層次，就是國際體系 層次、國家屬性層次、和決策者層次。現有的各種理論建構固然成功地捕捉了兩岸關係的若 干特定面向， 但是對於兩岸關係的兩個最大的特性卻大多缺乏掌握， 就是權力的不對等（ power asymmetry ）和衝突的主權要求（ conflicting sovereignty claims ）。本文的第 二個部份，就是緊扣兩岸關係的特性，提出一個解釋臺北大陸政策的理論架構。在權力不對 等和主權要求衝突的場合，大國對於小國一定是採取壓制的政策，而小國對於大國卻有可能 採用「抗衡」（ balancing ），或是「扈從」（ bandwagoning ）兩種不同的策略， 這就 是臺北大陸政策的兩個主要的選項。透過和前蘇聯國家的比較，本文發現兩岸經濟發展程度 的差距和西方支持臺北的程度是臺灣大陸政策能否維持抗衡的關鍵。

　　　　　The first part of this paper is literature review of contemporary study on cross-Straits relations. Three types of academic works can be found in the literature: normative discussion that is oriented toward specific national goals and entailing policy prescriptions; descriptive analyses that focus on organizing facts, presenting data, and depicting trends; and theoretical formulations that explain patterns through general concepts and models. In the last category one finds three levels of analysis: international system, national attributes, and decision making. Those theories capture specific aspects of Cross-Straits relations, but they often fail to grasp the most important elements in the current relations between Taipei and Beijing: power asymmetry and conflicting sovereignty claims. The second part of this paper presents a theory to account for Taipei's mainland policy. It is assumed that there are only two basic policy alternatives for Taiwan: balancing and bandwagoning. Through a comparison with the former Soviet Union, it is found that the agp in economic development across the Taiwan Straits and the American support for Taipei constitute the two main factors that uphold Taiwan's balancing strategy toward mainland China.