Taiwanese Citizens Research Articles

The human cost of war: An experimental study of Taiwanese attitudes towards war casualties

This paper investigates public attitudes toward types of war casualties. Through a survey experiment, we examine Taiwanese responses to hypothetical scenarios involving casualties among Taiwan's own military, the US military as allies, the Chinese military as enemy combatants, and mainland Chinese civilians. Our paper reveals three findings: first, there is a stronger aversion among Taiwanese citizens to their own military casualties compared with those of their allies. Second, Taiwanese attitudes toward their own military casualties are more adverse than those incurred by enemy military. Lastly, Taiwanese support for military action diminishes more significantly with Chinese civilian casualties than with Taiwanese military losses.

Taiwanese Support for Self-Defense after the Russo–Ukrainian War

What impact does the Russo–Ukrainian War have on Taiwanese citizens’ attitudes toward the country’s self-defense? We used seven waves of representative surveys by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research between September 2021 and March 2023 (n = 10,869) in Taiwan. We tested two major hypotheses: that support for self-defense should increase for all citizens after the Ukraine crisis; and that the effect should be visible only among certain partisans. Using two surveys fielded before and after the Russian invasion, respectively, we found that support for war did not change significantly. Instead, we found a pattern of polarization based on partisanship. Subsequent analyses using seven waves reached the same conclusion. The partisan hypothesis also received additional support from a robustness test. Overall, the paper highlights the importance of context in studying public reactions to security threats. Policy and theoretical implications were discussed at the end of the paper.

Influences of Potential Military Conflict between Taiwan and China on the Intention to Emigrate among Taiwanese Individuals

Objectives: Amid escalating tensions between Taiwan and China, the potential for military conflict profoundly affects the intention to emigrate among Taiwanese citizens. This study examined the influence of the perception of potential military conflict between Taiwan and China, depressive symptoms, and sociodemographic characteristics on emigration intention among Taiwanese citizens. Methods: Through stratified random sampling and telephone interviews conducted, data on emigration intentions, awareness of China’s military activities, concern of potential military conflict, the perceived effects of military conflict on the lifestyle, and depressive symptoms of 2,000 Taiwanese individuals were collected. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between emigration intention and various predictors, namely, attitudes toward military conflict, depressive symptoms, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: The findings revealed that 23.4% of participants harbored the intention to emigrate. Significant determinants of this intention were high education level (p < 0.001), concern about the possibility of military conflict (p < 0.001), concern about the effects of military conflict (p < 0.001), a marked lack of confidence in the ability of political leadership to manage cross-strait relations (p < 0.001), and significant depressive symptoms (p < 0.001). Conversely, older age (p < 0.001), lack of awareness about China’s military activities (p < 0.001), and chronic physical ailments (p < 0.05) were inversely related to emigration intention. Age and education level moderated the relationship between military conflict-related concern and emigration intention (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The interplay of age, educational level, concern about military conflict between Taiwan and China, significant depressive symptoms, and confidence in political leadership significantly influences emigration intention among Taiwanese individuals, highlighting the need for targeted policy responses.

Can Digital Democracy Guard Citizens’ Safety? Taking Taiwan’s Battle against covid as an Exemplary Case

Abstract The covid-19 pandemic required swift responses from governments at all levels. Government agencies were faced with the immense task of mitigating the health, social, and economic effects of covid-19. These actions and responses included developing mobile phone location tracking systems and ‘electronic fences’ alongside the use of big data analytics. Whether intentionally or not, this led to questions about the rise of the ‘biosurveillance state’. In this paper, we examine the extent to which digital democracy has emerged as a contested concept in Taiwan. Furthermore, we ask: to what extent is the use of digital surveillance for disease control and prevention justifiable, and to what extent can personal privacy be sacrificed when adopting digital surveillance measures with the aim of securing collective safety? We compare Taiwanese citizens’ concerns about personal privacy with those in other democracies, such as the UK, and those in the EU and North America.

Evaluation of healthcare-related factors influencing mental health of Taiwanese citizens among different age groups

The issue of mental health has gained heightened recognition as a significant public health concern due to its potential to significantly impact various aspects of individuals’ lives. Numerous factors may influence mental health, and this study seeks to investigate and compare potential healthcare-related factors that affect the mental health of Taiwanese individuals across different age groups. Data for this study were taken from the Taiwan Social Change Survey (TSCS), conducted in 2021. Descriptive statistics were calculated to compare the three age groups. Then, multiple regression models were constructed with mental health conditions as the dependent variable and demographics and other key healthcare-related components as independent variables, respectively. Results showed that, among the three age groups, the middle-aged adults had the highest BMI, and the older adults had significantly better mental health. As compared with the other age groups, the older adults had significantly better perceptions of fair distribution of healthcare resources, and their trust in the healthcare system was the highest. With regard to searching for online healthcare information, the frequency reported by the older adults was the lowest. The regression model showed that, religious belief, trust in the healthcare system and searching for online healthcare information were significantly associated with mental health of middle-aged adults. In the younger group, searching for online healthcare information was significantly negatively associated with mental health. The study’s findings provide insight into how to provide Taiwanese citizens of different age groups with proper and targeted mental health promotion activities.

Beyond Gender Norms: Deepening Understanding of Transgender Individuals in Taiwan

<p>隨著同性婚姻合法化，社會對性少數議題關注增加，但跨性別相關議題仍未受到足夠重視。本文從不強調生理性別、不隨意幫人出櫃、以及適當的稱讚方式等方面，提出對跨性別者的互動需注意的要點。在臨床和日常生活中，尊重性別認同、避免刻板印象，有助於建立更友善、尊重的溝通氛圍。</p> <p> </p><p>Since the legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan in May 2019, Taiwanese citizens have become increasingly aware of the concerns of sexual minorities. One subgroup of sexual minorities that continues to be underappreciated is transgender individuals. This article offers several recommendations for sensitively interacting with transgender individuals, such as not emphasizing their biological sex, refraining from outing individuals against their wishes, and avoiding inappropriate words of praise. In both clinical and daily settings, respecting gender identity and avoiding stereotypes helps establish a friendly and respectful atmosphere.</p> <p> </p>

Strategic Clarity and Taiwanese Citizens’ Confidence in the US Security Commitment

President Biden’s remarks that his administration is willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan appear to be a significant deviation from Washington’s long-standing policy of “strategic ambiguity.” Critics warn that such a clear pledge is likely to bolster Taiwanese citizens’ confidence in America’s defense commitment, which may encourage Taipei’s pursuit of independence. This study uses deterrence theory with panel survey data to examine this argument. The results support critics’ concerns that Biden’s security pledges have increased Taiwanese citizens’ confidence in Washington’s security assurance. However, the public’s overall confidence declined between 2021 and 2022, which can be attributed to the shifting views of pro-independence citizens due to their concern about a Chinese leadership emboldened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. After witnessing America’s security assistance to Ukraine, independence supporters may have recognized the uncertain nature of Washington’s security commitment and adjusted their expectations.

Taiwan's Politics in Pixels: Analyzing the Democratic Progressive Party's Digital Rhetoric

Over seven decades of political stalemate, Taiwan's sovereign status vis-à-vis Mainland China remains an unresolved and volatile issue. The 21st century has witnessed spiraling cross-Strait tensions due to pro-independence endeavors by the Taiwanese Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), challenging the fundamental One China Principle. This delicate equilibrium has experienced further strain by the DPP's employment of digital campaigns to influence Taiwanese citizens' perceptions of Mainland China, while simultaneously bolstering ties with the US in support of autonomy. Amid this complex landscape, media and political propagandas have surfaced as the DPP's prominent instruments to sway its citizenry. However, the potency of digital media in sculpting public opinion and steering political discourse is met with a scarcity of research exploring the DPP's methodologies in advocating for an autonomous Taiwan. To address this gap, this paper offers a preliminary outlook by analyzing the DPP's deployment of digital media and political rhetoric as influential mechanisms to shape its citizens' perceptions of identity.

Politics matters for individual attitudes toward vaccine donation: cross-national evidence from the United States and Taiwan

BackgroundVaccine equity has been a major concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the principle of vaccine equity, donor countries should apply the criterion of needs to make decisions about vaccine donation instead of considering recipient countries’ economic status. We examine whether people follow the same criterion or consider other factors to decide which country to donate vaccines and how many vaccines should be delivered.MethodsWe conducted online surveys with the design of conjoint experiment in the United States and Taiwan in 2021. 1,532 American citizens and 1,587 Taiwanese citizens were interviewed. The respondents were broadly quota-matched to their respective demographic proportions on the dimensions of age, gender, and education. We estimated the average marginal component effects (AMCEs) of the conjoint attributes by using the OLS regression models with standard errors clustered at the respondent level.Results15,320 and 15,870 decisions on vaccine donation generated by conjoint experiment respectively in the United States and Taiwan were included in the analysis. Both American and Taiwanese people tend to donate vaccines to countries that suffer severe consequences of COVID-19 and democracies compared to authoritarian countries. However, they are less willing to donate vaccines to those with higher levels of capability in response to COVID-19. Taiwanese people tend to donate vaccines to countries having formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan (AMCE 13.4%, 95% CI 11.8%-15.1%). Nonetheless, American people would rather donate vaccines to countries without formal diplomatic relations with the United States (AMCE − 4.0%, 95% CI -5.6%--2.4%).ConclusionsThe findings reveal that politics plays a significant role in people’s decisions about vaccine donation. Under electoral pressure, political leaders must think about how to respond to the public’s preferences over vaccine donation to achieve vaccine equity and address the global health crisis.

‘Stand up like a Taiwanese!’: PRC coercion and public preferences for resistance

AbstractTaiwan's opposition to PRC demands such as acceptance of the ‘92 Consensus’ and ‘One Country, Two Systems’ formula since 2016 has invited a series of retaliatory measures from Beijing, designed to coerce Taiwan into compliance. Given the stark asymmetry in economic size, military capability, and diplomatic status, Taiwan provides a case for studying coercive diplomacy that takes the form of threats to punish. Material differences suggest that Taiwan should capitulate, and ‘cheap talk’ theses expect PRC threats to have no discernible effect, while balance of threat arguments expect resolve. In this article, we use the survey data collected in the 2016, 2019, and 2020 rounds of the Taiwan National Security Study to examine how Taiwanese respond to China's intensifying and expanding threats. Our paper identifies four strategies that the public sees as responses to PRC coercion: isolation, bandwagon with China, balance against China by allying with the USA and Japan, and hedge by deepening economic ties with China while aligning with the USA and Japan against China. We show that the popular support for balancing against China rises as PRC coercion grows and Taiwanese citizens increasingly perceive China to be a threat. Our findings imply that citizens in a liberal democracy can develop the will to pushback against pressure from an authoritarian regime despite sharp asymmetries in capabilities and material limitations.

Smartphone addiction, gender and interpersonal attachment: A cross-sectional analytical survey in Taiwan.

Smartphone use has dramatically increased worldwide, contributing to a profound change in interpersonal interactions. They have become the primary medium of human interaction, and smartphone addiction, consequently, has become a modern-day reality. Recent research on smartphone addiction has provided diverse explanations regarding the correlation between gender and addiction. Therefore, this study aims to analyse the correlation and variance among smartphone addiction, gender and interpersonal attachment. The participants included Taiwanese citizens and the questionnaires were randomly distributed; 1190 valid questionnaires (534 males, 656 females) were collected. Descriptive statistics were computed to observe the average value and standard deviation between interpersonal attachment and gender. Next, Spearman's ρ was conducted to interpret the correlation among smartphone addiction, gender and interpersonal attachment. Finally, the participants were divided into three groups based on their pre-determined level of smartphone addiction: high, moderate and low addictions. The Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed based on interpersonal attachment as the independent variable to determine any statistically significant difference among the three levels. There are four patterns of interpersonal attachment: secure, avoidant, dismissing and anxious attachments. The correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between interpersonal attachment and smartphone addiction (p > 0.000), while revealing no relationship between gender and smartphone addiction or gender and interpersonal attachment. Additionally, the ANOVA indicated the difference was statistically significant in the groups of high and moderate addictions; no statistical significance was identified in the group of low addiction (p < 0.204). This study revealed that there was no correlation between gender and smartphone addiction, but rather, a positive correlation between smartphone addiction and interpersonal attachment. This positive correlation suggests both high and moderate addiction groups display insecurity in their interpersonal attachment. Therefore, to lower the prevalence of unhealthy smartphone addiction, maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships is suggested.

The cognition, information behaviors, and preventive behaviors of Taiwanese people facing COVID-19

This study investigated the cognition, information behaviors and preventive behaviors of Taiwanese citizens in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey was administered and 610 valid responses were collected. The relationships between demographic variables and optimistic bias, social trust, information credibility, personal protective measures, avoidance of human contact, and immune system strengthening were examined. Results showed that optimistic bias existed, but there was no significant correlation between optimistic bias and personal protective measures. Laypersons had high trust in the government, but also optimistic bias. Gender was the most important predictor; with occupation and region of residence also interacting with different preventive behaviors. People in Taiwan may be overly optimistic in facing the epidemic; relevant information should be properly disclosed to help reduce this bias. Social trust in the government seems to be an important successful factor in the fight against COVID-19 in Taiwan.

Kebijakan Keimigrasian Indonesia terhadap Negara yang Tidak Memiliki Hubungan Diplomatik: Studi Kasus Israel dan Taiwan

This paper provides an analysis of Indonesia’s immigration policies towards Israel and Taiwan, two countries that do not have official diplomatic relations with Indonesia. Immigration policy analysis will focus on the implementation of Indonesia’s selective policy towards foreigners such as applications for entry permits (visas), inspections at Immigration Checkpoints (TPI), supervision of foreigners, and enforcement of Indonesian immigration laws. Through qualitative research methods and descriptive analysis approaches, it can be explained how the concept of national interest is able to influence Indonesia’s decision not to open diplomatic relations with Israel and Taiwan. The differences in background that affect the absence of diplomatic relations have finally contributed to the differences in the policy of granting the Visa of the Republic of Indonesia to citizens of Israel and Taiwan who want to enter the sovereignty territory of the State of Indonesia. The Covid-19 pandemic situation also influenced the policy of granting the visit visa. There are no differences in security enforcement policies at Immigration Checkpoints and immigration control, as well as law enforcement through immigration administration actions between Israeli and Taiwanese citizens and foreigners from other countries.

Taiwanese Identity - a Done Deal? Understanding the Contemporary Consolidation of Taiwanese Identity

Abstract Taiwanese identity has been the subject of much scholarly inquiry in recent decades. The rapidly changing political, social and international environment around Taiwan has made the question of what it means to be Taiwanese both more complex (in terms of aspirations for the future of Taiwan) and simple (that being Taiwanese is different from being Chinese). The purpose of this study is to explore the intricacies of Taiwanese identity in the face of recent developments such as changes in education, shifting attitudes towards China as a result of ongoing tensions between Taiwan and the mainland. The study posits that the previously ambiguous Taiwanese identity, which might have been a subject of contention during the 1990s, has now become a distinct and unified construct. This can be attributed to the maturation of Taiwanese society following decades of martial law, leading to a clear consensus among the majority of Taiwanese citizens that they do not wish to be absorbed by the People’s Republic of China. In order to understand the Taiwanese identity, it is essential to examine the collective aspirations and hopes of the Taiwanese population for the future of their nation. This can be seen through the active involvement of individuals in various civic movements and volunteer initiatives. The way in which the Taiwanese people envision their society, government, and place in the world is heavily influenced by their past and present experiences.

Evaluation of Medium- to Long-Term Women’s Shelters: Insights from Shelter Staff in Taiwan

To date, 17 medium- to long-term women’s shelters provide services to survivors of domestic violence in Taiwan. However, little is known about these shelters or the women they help. This study collected quantitative data from senior managers of 17 such shelters. The results revealed that as of 2020, these shelters had been in operation for 1.8 years, on average, and had assisted a total of 186 clients. The shelters contain an average of 5.5 rooms available for families, with an average minimum stay of 6 months and maximum stay of approximately 8 months. The managers perceive the main problems of the shelters to be insufficient funding, high staff resignation rates, the charging of utility and cleaning fees, old facilities, high admittance rates of foreign spouses, and a lack of facilities for older adults and people with disabilities. The shelters provide services to a diverse group of survivors, comprising Taiwanese citizens (54.1%), indigenous people (3.7%), and foreign spouses (42.2%). These findings have practical implications for women’s shelters providing help to domestic violence survivors. Additional exploration of the shelters and allocation of additional funds for the shelters’ development is necessary. Future research could explore the effectiveness of services offered to survivors.

Exploring the relationships of citizens' scientific interest and self-understanding to their learning enjoyment and self-efficacy in science.

The aim of this study was to explore whether citizens’ scientific interest and self-understanding relate to their learning enjoyment and self-efficacy in science. The sample participants consisted of 1,657 Taiwanese citizens ranging from 18 to 70 years of age. All participants were asked to complete the 2018 “Taiwan Citizens Science and Technology Literacy Survey” to assess their scientific interest, scientific self-understanding, science learning enjoyment, and scientific self-efficacy. Multiple regression models were used to analyze the data. The important findings included: (1) scientific interest was the most important predictor of science learning enjoyment, while scientific self-understanding was the most important predictor of scientific self-efficacy; and (2) the effects of scientific interest on self-understanding and the effect of science learning enjoyment on scientific self-efficacy each were significantly moderated by respondents’ age, with stronger relationships observed in younger citizens than older citizens. This study provides insight into Taiwanese citizens’ scientific learning enjoyment and self-efficacy and also informs potential governmental policies and/or societal practices that could be considered to promote scientific literacy.

Ethnic Ties, Organized Opposition and Voter Defection in Authoritarian Elections

AbstractExisting studies of ethnic voting mainly focus on democratic elections. In electoral autocracies, politically subordinate ethnicity can help citizens coordinate against the incumbent. However, we argue that collective action will be constrained when the group grows large, as it becomes costly for its members to form common behavioural norms and carry out effective sanctions through shared ethnic ties under authoritarian repression. Drawing on unique historical surveys in Taiwan, we study how Taiwanese ethnicity and local ethnic demography jointly induced voters' defection against the hegemonic KMT regime. We find that the pro-defection or anti-incumbent effect of Taiwanese ethnicity fell as the share of Taiwanese citizens in a township increased. However, the relative size of the Taiwanese group no longer undermined pro-defection ethnic voting after the KMT lifted the ban on opposition parties. Our results illustrate that formal organizations play a critical role in sustaining the informational salience of ethnicity in the elections.

Mask reuse during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey in Taiwan

Abstract Background The use of masks is an effective measure to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection; however, mask reuse is not recommended. Studies examining the factors associated with mask reuse during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic are limited. This nationwide survey aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with mask reuse among Taiwanese citizens during the pandemic. Methods From May 18 through May 31, 2020, a computer-assisted telephone interview system was used to randomly select Taiwanese citizens who were interviewed for COVID-19 preventive behaviors and knowledge on the usage of masks. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with mask reuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to analyze the rate of mask reuse among participants before and during the pandemic. Results For a total of 1,075 participants, the overall mean age was 57.4 years, and 82.2% of participants reported mask reuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. After controlling for other covariates, participants who had a greater knowledge on mask usage or had a high supply of masks were less likely to reuse masks during the pandemic. GEE analysis showed that compared with the participants' mask wearing behaviors before the COVID-19 pandemic, they were more likely to reuse masks during the pandemic. Conclusions The rate of mask reuse among the general population during the pandemic was significantly higher than that before the pandemic. Individuals were less likely to reuse masks if they had adequate knowledge on mask usage or had a high supply of masks. Since mask reuse is associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 due to the possibility of wearing SAS-CoV-2-contaminated masks, it is imperative to educate people on the correct usage of masks. Further, the government should provide sufficient masks to the general population to decrease the reuse of masks. Key messages Mask reuse increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the shortage in supply. It is imperative to educate people about the correct usage of masks.

A matter of perspective: differential evaluations of artificial intelligence between managers and staff in an experimental simulation

ABSTRACT This article tests whether managers and staff evaluate artificial intelligence (AI)-based process innovations differently. Scholars have argued perceptions of innovation vary systematically as a function of an individual’s position within organisations. We test for attitudinal differences between managers and staff via an online experimental simulation fielded among working-age Taiwanese citizens employed in public sector employment (n = 600). Respondents engage in a 12-round simulation. We experimentally vary whether the respondent receives support from an AI decision support tool. We assess pre-intervention and post-intervention attitudes towards the use of AI for a suite of organisational tasks, using a difference-in-difference estimation approach to identify the causal effect of organisational position on innovation evaluation. Our findings suggest managers are more supportive of AI as a decision support tool than staff, and remain so after the simulation. Managers also increased their support of AI tools to a larger degree than staff.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with the Reuse of Mask during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Survey in Taiwan

Mask usage is an effective measure to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection; however, mask reuse is not recommended. Studies examining the factors associated with mask reuse during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic are limited. This nationwide survey aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with mask reuse among Taiwanese citizens during the pandemic. From 18 May through 31 May 2020, a computer-assisted telephone interview system was used to randomly select Taiwanese citizens for interview regarding COVID-19-preventive behaviors and knowledge on mask usage. For a total of 1075 participants, the overall mean age was 57.4 years, and 82.2% of participants reported mask reuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. After controlling for other covariates, participants who had a greater knowledge of mask usage or had a high supply of masks were less likely to reuse masks during the pandemic. Moreover, generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis showed that, compared with the participants’ mask-wearing behaviors before the COVID-19 pandemic, they were more likely to reuse masks during the pandemic. Thus, it is imperative to educate people on the correct usage of masks. Furthermore, the government should provide sufficient masks to the general population to reduce mask reuse.