Dr. T.Y. Wang, University Professor and chair of the Department of Politics and Government, was invited by the Center for Social Research of Peking University in Beijing, China, to discuss Taiwan citizens’ voting behavior.
In the presentation conducted virtually via Zoom to a group of Chinese scholars, Wang points out that factors that are significant in Western democracies such as left-right political ideology play little role in Taiwanese politics. Instead, the China Factor is the most important factor in understanding Taiwan citizens’ voting behavior. Manifested in different ways at different time periods, the current debate in Taiwan is how to confront a rising and threatening China. Employing recently collected survey data, Wang demonstrates that such issues as the signing of a free-trade agreement and the “1992 Consensus” had played a major role in Taiwan’s 2020 presidential election.
“The China Factor and Taiwan Citizens’ Voting Behavior.” Center for Social Research of Peking University, Beijing, China, April 28, 2021 (Virtual presentation via Zoom, co-presented with Chris Achen).
