Identity, Self-interest or Learning? What Influences the De Facto Generation’s China-friendly Attitudes?

If Taiwan is to ensure peace in the Taiwan Strait, the best choice for the island is to align with the USA while sending goodwill messages to China. This study examines Taiwan’s de facto generation’s friendliness to China and the influencing factors. A scale developed on identity theory to measure the generation’s China-friendly attitude returned an average score of 2.87 out of 4. A mixed-method approach was used: Regression analysis was employed to verify the hypotheses; meanwhile, interview data were used to validate the link between the theoretical reasoning and social realities. The regression model based on social identity, rational choice and political socialisation theories explained 37.96% of the variation in attitude. The findings show that both the evaluation of self-interest and belief in equality trump advocacy for Taiwan’s independence in explaining this generation’s China-friendly attitude, contrary to their stereotype of being anti-China. This study’s findings shed light on which China-friendly policies can be pursued by the Taiwanese government while considering the attitude of Taiwan’s youth.