台灣的南太平洋戰略

南太平洋諸島國人口不多，土地不大，但卻是台灣正式邦交的重要據點。冷戰時代南太平洋「戰略後院」的態勢，隨著冷戰結束與中國崛起而出現重大變化。不管是內政的問題還是美中太平洋戰略的競爭關係，南太平洋已經成爲重要的戰略爭點，更是台灣無法忽略的外交重鎮。近幾年中國崛起，積極向南太佈局經營。其意圖除了天然資源外，還包括反向操作美國的亞太戰略佈局、圍剿台灣的正式外交空間、與擴張本身的外交影響力等考量，對台灣產生沈重的戰略壓力。對台灣而言，如何尋求與台灣有共同利益的亞太國家有關南太問題的合作關係，並重新調整過去對南太的策略與作法，是面對中國挑戰的基本作法，但中國崛起對台灣南太外交所造成的問題，也顯示台灣應如何尋求台灣－南太的正向合作議程，並善加利用台灣南島文化根源的重要資產，轉化爲可用的外交資源，也成爲另一個亟需處理的議題。

關鍵字

南太平洋；中國崛起；台灣－南太關係；台澳關係

並列摘要

The South Pacific has been a major area for Taiwan's foreign affairs. The South Pacific's ”strategic backyard” situation has extremely changed due to the end of Cold War and the upsurge of China. South Pacific has become an important strategic focus both in internal affairs and competitions of the South Pacific strategy between U.S. and China. Beijing now has substantial economic interests in the island nations, and is seeking to develop its geo-strategic position. The rising economic and diplomatic influence of China is a new and profoundly destabilising factor that is challenging long-established relations, such as to counter US naval power in Asia and to displace Taiwan's diplomatic status in this region. Taiwan has to explore new constructive and substantive cooperation with South Pacific states in facing China's challenges in the region. It is suggested that utilization of Taiwan's Austronesian cultural roots as a diplomatic resources will be a major theme in developing Taiwan's future diplomatic relation with pacific allies.