On the Road to a Common Taiwan Identity

Taiwan appears to be moving toward a common Taiwan identity despite the rapid rapprochement between Taiwan and China through cross-strait trade agreements and a closer relationship between China’s Communist party and Taiwan’s government party, the KMT. The democracy acts as a melt- ing pot and facilitates the move toward a multifaceted Taiwan identity contain- ing several identities including Chinese, Taiwanese, and aboriginal identities with Taiwan as its home. The development shows that Taiwanese distinguish economic issues from their identity. A continued deterioration in Taiwan’s democracy since the election of President Ma Ying-jeou may risk having a long- term impact on the Taiwanese identity by limiting plurality in debate, dialogue, and education. While the population moves toward a common view on the Taiwanese identity, the KMT government is constructing a Chinese national identity policy that risks alienating the vast majority of the population. Finally, the development of Taiwan’s identity through history is shortly discussed and a road toward a future common Taiwan identity is outlined. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.