Taiwan's young people not 'naturally pro-independence'

Labeling Taiwan's young people as "naturally pro-independence" - as claimed by Taiwan' Democratic Progressive Party authorities - is groundless and losing credibility as the younger generation seeks better prospects, experts from both sides of the Taiwan Strait said on Friday.

They made the remarks at the fourth iteration of the "Cross-Strait Scholars Face-to-Face" series of academic activities in Beijing, focusing on the view of the younger generation in Taiwan on reunification or "independence".

Co-held by the Academy of Chinese Culture in Beijing and Xiamen University in Fujian, these activities aim to enhance in-depth dialogue between scholars from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

Wang Zaixi, vice-president of the National Society of Taiwan Studies in Beijing, said Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen's claim that the younger generation in Taiwan is inherently pro-independence is losing credibility.

Cheng You-ping, head of the political and economic research center of Taiwan's National Taipei University, said the notion of "naturally pro-independence" is, in fact, an artificially induced mindset that can be easily influenced.

Cheng said he has organized many visit trips for Taiwan youth to the mainland, witnessing their perspectives transform after spending just a few days on the mainland.

As the younger generation becomes increasingly aware that the DPP's conceptual merchandising has failed to improve their actual lives, the so-called "naturally pro-independence" sentiment is undergoing changes, he said.

The DPP's significant defeat in the 2022 local elections is a clear indicator of this ongoing shift, he added.