Source: Tiac via Flickr
Taiwan’s Research, Development and Evaluation Commission (RDEC) recently published the results of its survey on political and ethnic views.
From the Taipei Times–
The survey showed that 64.6 percent of respondents identified themselves as Taiwanese, 11.5 percent considered themselves Chinese, while 18.1 percent called themselves both Taiwanese and Chinese.
The same survey in April last year showed that 67.1 percent identified themselves as Taiwanese, 13.6 percent considered themselves Chinese, and 15.2 percent called themselves both Taiwanese and Chinese.
With the increasing Chaiwan relations, the results might mean that the people in Taiwan are more comfortable in engaging economically with the Mainland.
[The term "Chaiwan" was coined by the South Korean media to refer to Taiwanese tech companies collaborating with Chinese manufacturers.]
Robert Green of Taiwan Today says otherwise–
The survey regularly receives media attention because the self-identification indicator is used as a roundabout way of gauging public attitudes toward mainland China. The assumption is that those who identify themselves exclusively as Taiwanese lean toward an independence platform, while those who identify themselves as Chinese or Chinese and Taiwanese are more likely to favor engagement strategies and even a possible political settlement with Beijing.
The study, in other words, creates a false choice between the respondents’ cultural and ethnic heritage and their political views on Taiwan’s unresolved relationship with mainland China.
What do you think? Is this a case of creating false identity choices or is there a stark difference between nationalism and regionalism?
Excuse me, but this topic sounds so 1999. It would have fit better in the runup to the Taiwan presidential elections of 2000, which Chen Shui-bian won.
After his presidency, most people in Taiwan, no matter whether they call themselves Taiwanese, Chinese or both, have come to realize that the issue is a red herring. Taiwan independence, Taiwan unification with China or continuation of the status quo will not solve all of their problems with a wave of a wand. Choosing one “solution” will only trade one set of issues for another.
There is no perfect solution.
Instead, people on both sides of the Taiwan straits, including the government in Beijing, have decided that instead of endless argument over who should do what first in order to break the logjam, it is much better and more practical to lay these arguments aside, at least for now. Instead, all sides should just get to know each other better, and trade. It is easy to agree on one thing: both want an improved standard of living.
This is an interesting survey, and I think it is important to continue measuring these identities on a regular basis.
However, as a way to gauge Taiwanese preference for unification/independence/status quo, this identity survey is only secondary and inferior to the surveys that *explicitly* ask such questions. The most notable is the Mainland Affair Council’s monthly surveys — see: http://www.mac.gov.tw/english/english/pos/9804/po9804e.htm
As can be seen here, the answer is clear: well over 80% of Taiwanese prefer the status quo to be maintained right now. Said another way — and this is perhaps not surprising — the far majority of Taiwanese just want peace and prosperity.
(It should also be noted that the MAC conducts more specific surveys as well that measure Taiwanese views on current Cross-Strait talks. For example: http://www.mac.gov.tw/english/english/pos/9805/index.htm .)
-凯文-
I’m neither Chinese or Taiwanese but having lived in both places I can say if given a choice, I would choose to be Taiwanese. Taiwan has much to be proud of – except for their businessmen – who are as ruthless and cruel as their mainland counterparts.
and do you know most taiwanese businessmen were mainlander taiwanese who came to china after 1947-49? I see a connection.
But I wonder if those who identify with being Taiwanese deny being Chinese?
As in, if someone insulted Chinese people and history, would a Taiwanese person be offended?
Because from what I’ve observed, even the most pro-independence minded Taiwanese believes that Mainland China’s history is their history.
Someone told me, this just coming from another person who worked closely with some Taiwanese, that some Taiwanese do not associate Taiwan’s history with the whole of China’s history.
So I guess there are still people divided over this one.
But I don’t think they deny being “Chinese”. 华人 or Chinese is quite generic.
That’s very interesting!
I wish the interviewers would ask more probing questions :)
Yes, I wish they did too!
Something off-topic, I was just watching the “Beijing Welcomes You” MV, and they have Taiwanese artists in them. And even one Korean!
This just goes to show that cross-strait issues are really very complicated. :-P
I should also mention that I know a lot of mainland Chinese people who first identify with their local region, e.g. Shanghainese, Hunanese, etc.
It’s just assumed you are Chinese.
Good point.
I would like to use the flag picture, just for 2 hours…not for any market purpose…