Change and Continuity in Taiwan’s Public Opinion on the Cross-Strait Economic Interactions
Abstract
The Sunflower Student Movement was a significant event in Taiwan’s political history. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, we argue that the effect of the movement on the attitude of the general public, particularly the young, toward the cross-Strait economic interactions and the perception that Taiwan may be forced to make political concessions resulting from such ties is limited. Based on the Taiwan National Security surveys, we find out that the movement, to a certain extent, reflected public sentiment already existing in the society, and did not push the sentiment further. Compared to the attitude toward national identity, which is more long-lasting, the views on the cross-Strait economic ties may be more volatile, and are thus less predictable.
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Biographies
Yitzu Lin is a PhD candidate in political science at the University of South Carolina.
John Fuh-sheng Hsieh is professor in the Department of Political Science at University of South Carolina.
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Article first published online: May 23, 2016
Issue published: December 2017
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This article was published in Journal of Asian and African Studies.
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