The Certainty of Uncertainty: Taiwanese Public Opinion on U.S.–Taiwan Relations in the Early Trump Presidency

The election of Donald Trump has injected new uncertainties into the conduct of U.S. foreign affairs in Asia. For Taiwan, regional security is challenging because it must simultaneously deal with an increasingly belligerent China and an America led by the unconventional Trump. Based on public opinion data, this study analyzes how the Taiwanese public perceives the state of U.S.–Taiwan relations, and how certain they are about America’s overall commitment to Taiwan in this era. Results indicate that people in their 20s, pan-Green partisans, and those favoring Taiwan independence perceive U.S.–Taiwan relations to be better under President Trump. Moreover, supporters of the pan-Green coalition and of Taiwan independence, together with the more “ambivalent” respondents, likewise feel more certain about America’s commitment to Taiwan’s security. On the contrary, pan-Blue partisans and Taiwanese citizens with mainland Chinese ethnicity are generally more pessimistic and skeptical about U.S.–Taiwan ties and partnership with Trump in the White House.

Personality Traits and Individual Attitude toward the Independence–Unification Issue in Taiwan

This study examines the effects of the Big Five personality traits on individual attitude toward the independence–unification issue in Taiwan. Using an original dataset, this study finds that extraversion and openness to experience are significantly associated with individual attitude toward the independence–unification issue. Specifically, a higher level of extraversion is associated with an increased likelihood of support for unification with China, whereas a higher level of openness to experience is associated with an increased likelihood of support for Taiwan independence. Moreover, higher levels of extraversion and openness to experience increase the likelihood of support for change in cross-strait relations. Also, there are no gender-differentiated effects of personality traits on individual attitude toward the independence–unification issue. Overall, this study concludes that personality traits can provide some explanatory power for individual attitude toward the independence–unification issue. Therefore, personality traits merit more serious attention in the analysis of Taiwanese peoples’ positions on cross-strait relations.

China-US confrontation will escalate over Taiwan

Significance Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, made clear that one-day military exercises, which will include the aircraft carrier Liaoning and amphibious landing operations, are intended to show China’s determination to “defeat any forms of Taiwan independence”. Impacts Washington will offer Taipei high-profile gestures of support, such as increased visits by defence officials. China’s provocations will weaken Taiwan's opposition politicians, who have advocated a more conciliatory approach to China. Public support in Taiwan for a referendum on independence will grow.

Curriculum Reform and the Teaching of History in High Schools during the Ma Ying-jeou Presidency

The last two years of Ma Ying-jeou's (Ma Yingjiu) presidency saw the eruption of a controversy surrounding proposed revisions to the high school history curriculum. Although not the first time that the subject of history has exacerbated the tensions between holders of a China-centred view of Taiwan's history and those favouring a more Taiwan-centred approach, this crisis, which took place mainly between 2014 and 2015, was undoubtedly the fiercest witnessed by the Taiwanese society in the sphere of educational issues. By putting the 2014–2015 dispute into perspective through a review of the different attempts made by the pro-Taiwan independence Chen Shui-bian (Chen Shuibian) and the pro-unification Ma Ying-jeou governments to edit the history curriculum, this article will underline the specificities of this particular controversy. This contribution will, therefore, help to shed new light not only on the perception of Taiwan's history promoted by the Ma administration, but also the policy-making process which characterised the last years of Ma's presidency.