With the current tense cross-strait relations, Taiwanese people generally have a more negative perception of China, except in Kinmen. Interestingly, more than 90% of the students at National Quemoy University (NQU) are from Taiwan. After they spent a few years in Kinmen, their attitude towards China became similar to that of the locals. This paper explores the factors that influence the attitudes of NQU students towards China, with NQU students as the research object. This study conducted a questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews among NQU students to determine their attitudes towards China. The study collected 895 valid questionnaires (approximately one-third of enrolled students) and conducted 34 in-depth interviews using snowball sampling. The findings indicate that extended contact constitutes a critical explanatory factor. Based on statistical modeling, the study demonstrates that extended contact exerts a significant influence on NQU students’ attitudes toward China, both in terms of their overall contemporary perceptions of China and the attitudinal changes observed following their relocation to Kinmen. Furthermore, the results suggest that the effect of extended contact on students’ attitudes operates through three primary mechanisms: anxiety reduction, reduction of ignorance, and inclusion of the other in the self. Consistent with the quantitative findings, the qualitative analysis further reveals that extended contact shapes NQU students’ attitudes toward China through three interrelated processes: "reducing negative impressions of China", "increasing positive perceptions / reconstructing the imagination of China", and "aspiring to establish cross-border friendships."

Authors:
Ruihua Lin, National Quemoy University, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Rui-Hua Lin is an Associate Professor in the Department of International and Mainland Affairs at National Quemoy University (Kinmen), Taiwan.

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