Chinese Taipei, Republic of China, or Taiwan? Taiwanese Identity in 2010

Abstract

The discourse analysis of both elite and mass texts of Taiwanese national identity in 2010 reveals a significant usage of the term ‘Taiwan’ when referencing the nation. This highlights the conscious and unconscious repetition of associating the nation with the identity badge of ‘Taiwan’ rather than that of the ‘Republic of China’. This symbolizes a greater embedding of a distinct ‘Taiwan’ identity that is opposed to an identity that is indelibly conflated with that of China. Hence, an inclination can be observed in the Taiwanese/Chinese identity tension that is in favor of the Taiwanese side.

A prominent discourse of Taiwanese national identity that both elite and mass texts converge on is ‘democracy’. This democratic quality of Taiwan is also significant as it is seen as a characteristic of Taiwan that is separate and distinct from China. Often times, democracy is also conflated with the key idea of ‘independence’ in mass texts. However, as the term ‘Republic of China’ still remains used significantly, especially in leadership speeches, there is a fundamental divergence between official and mass conceptions of which identity badge is to be adopted by the nation. This thus results in the essential dilemma of who—Taiwan or the Republic of China—is the independent state in question. On further analysis of elite and mass discourses, there is thus significant disunity in the understanding within the elites and masses in society on the various identities that is highlighted through the discourse of Taiwanese national identity.