Abstract
This paper examines the social basis of China-related policies and the variation across generations in Taiwan. Drawing on data from Taiwan Social Image Survey conducted during 2010, the project investigates Taiwanese people's attitudes toward various China-related policies, including (1) the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), (2) allowing Chinese students to study in Taiwan, (3) recognizing Chinese diplomas and degrees, (4) allowing self-guided individual Chinese tourists in Taiwan, and (5) increasing the daily quota of Chinese tourists on group tours in Taiwan. The study found that the Taiwanese people's stance towards diverse Chinarelated policies varied across generations and was indeed affected by their socio-political backgrounds. On the one hand, men in general, pan-blue supporters, and higher-income citizens were more likely to support Taiwan government's China-related policies; on the other hand, women in general, non-pan-blue supporters, and lower-income citizens tended towards nonsupportive stances of the same policies. On economic opening and trade, women's opinions did not differ significantly from men's. On non-economic policies, however, women were more likely to take an opposing position than men. These divisions of opinion reflect the social impacts of rapidly changing cross-strait relations in Taiwan.