Yasuhiro Matsuda's 'China and Taiwan' Wins Yomiuri-Yoshino Sakuzo Prize

The 27th Yomiuri-Yoshino Sakuzo Prize winners have been announced, with Professor Yasuhiro Matsuda of the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia at the University of Tokyo winning for his book, 'China and Taiwan: The Politics of Crisis and Balance.' The selection committee noted that the book meticulously organizes the historical context of cross-strait relations and looks ahead to the future of the Taiwan Strait, making it an important work that combines academic depth with realistic observation. Matsuda, 60, has been researching cross-strait relations for over 30 years. He stated that his motivation for writing the book was to "organize my own way of understanding cross-strait relations and theoretical framework, hoping this book will remain a useful reference 10 years from now." Matsuda visited Taiwan last September and presented the book to President Lai Ching-te. Shinichi Kitaoka, chairman of the selection committee, praised the book in his review, analyzing China's unification goals and Taiwan's democratization, concluding that the book is highly valuable for understanding the Taiwan Strait situation and East Asian security.