中國制定〈反分裂國家法〉，宣稱將以非和平方式對付台獨。本文運用國際關係中的「威脅」理論剖析中國制訂該法的政治動機及戰略目標，發現中國旨在以更清晰的法律訊息，傳達更高信度的非和平威脅，以嚇阻台灣追求法理獨立；同時也利用國際不願見到台海戰爭的考量，嚇阻國際對台獨的支持，以確保其崛起的和平環境。同時，中國也透過〈反分裂法〉中「解決台灣問題是中國內部事務」的主張，向國際宣示其對台用武之合法性。

China enacted Anti-Secession Law threatening non-peaceful means should
Taiwan move towards independence. Applying threat theory, this article argues that this legislation was to make its threat of non-peaceful means clearer and more credible, hence prevent Taiwan from declaring de jure independence and the international community from supporting Taiwan independence. China also claims legitimacy in its non-peaceful means against Taiwan by insisting that “Taiwan is China’s internal affair.”