Do cross-polity contacts change policy preferences? Using the attitudes of Taiwanese student delegations visiting Mainland China towards unification–independence as an example

In: International relations of the Asia-Pacific: a journal of the Japan Association of International Relations, Volume 22, Issue 3, p. 501-526

Abstract

Does the experience of visiting Mainland China change the attitude of Taiwanese youth towards the unification–independence issue? What are the factors influencing such a change, if any? In this article, a panel study was conducted of 538 Taiwanese youths visiting Mainland China. Four hypotheses were proposed based on social contact theory and rational choice theory and then validated using a regression model. After visiting Mainland China, 17.57% and 15.89% of the Taiwanese students shifted to support for unification and independence respectively, whereas 66.54% indicated no changes in their stance. They increasingly favored unification with an improved impression of Mainland China, reduced hostility, increased willingness to integrate into China, and a decline in their evaluation of Taiwan's democracy. These findings corroborated the effects of true acquaintances, casual contacts, and the maximization of self-interest advocated by theories of social contact and rational choice.