Cabestan, Jean-Pierre

Abstract
This study examines the two contending theories of racial issues or ethnic politics, namely, the “contact” and “group threat” theories, in an attempt to learn how increased exposure to and contact with China affect Taiwanese people’s perceptions of China. More explicitly, faced with China’s rising power and changes in cross-Strait relations, the attitudes and sentiments of the general public in Taiwan could either become friendlier or more hostile to China. This study employs a randomized telephone survey, and statistical analysis of the data has allowed us to identify a clear trend of increased exposure leading to more positive opinions of China, confirming the contact theory. Furthermore, these positive impressions have encouraged the very same people to display a willingness to continue interactions with China. This phenomenon understates the unchanging reality that close economic ties between the two sides have overcome, at least to some degree, the sense of hostility across the Taiwan Strait.
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