76 PERSPECTIVES ON BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS | VOL 43 | 2025 Introduction What does it mean to be Taiwanese? This question has never had a simple answer. Taiwan’s complex collective identity, shaped by over 30,000 years of history, profoundly influences its contemporary human rights landscape. As citizens increasingly identify as distinctly Taiwanese—separate from Chinese—they have developed democratic institutions and social movements that safeguard individual liberties. This identity-rights nexus manifests in three central ways: resistance to authoritarian pressure, strengthened democratic participation, and the evolution of progressive social justice policies. Taiwan’s human rights advancement is inseparable from the evolution of its self-definition. Collective identity encompasses a personal sense of belonging and community along with shared values, culture, history, language, and experiences that define how people perceive themselves and shape their civil engagement. Fukuyama (2018) notes that “National identity not only enhances physical security, but also inspires good governance; facilitates economic development; fosters trust among citizens; engenders support for strong social safety nets; and ultimately makes possible liberal democracy itself.” This relationship between identity and rights is especially potent in Taiwan, where political, economic, and social pressures continuously challenge what it means to be Taiwanese. Taiwan’s unique identity emerged through multiple colonial periods—Dutch, Spanish, and Japanese— followed by authoritarian Kuomintang (KMT) rule after 1949. Taiwan developed a trajectory distinct from mainland China. The end of martial law in 1987 marked a pivotal moment when Taiwanese identity and human rights began evolving together. Unlike Hong Kong’s loss of freedoms under Beijing, Taiwan has maintained its democratic institutions despite similar pressures. This divergence underscores what is at stake in contemporary Taiwan. China’s territorial claim over Taiwan transforms the identity question from merely cultural to existential. When Taiwan asserts its separate identity, China responds with military threats, cyberattacks, and diplomatic isolation—actions that, paradoxically, often strengthen Taiwanese resolve. A feedback loop is generated, where external pressure reinforces Taiwanese identity, which in turn bolsters democratic resilience and rights protections. This cycle has profound implications for Taiwan’s 23 million citizens as well as regional security and democratic governance in East Asia and around the globe. Taiwan’s significance extends beyond its identity politics. Dubbed the “silicon island,” Taiwan produces over 90% of the world’s advanced semiconductor chips and controls a strait through which one-fifth of global maritime trade passes. This economic leverage helps Taiwan maintain its rights-based governance despite pressure from Beijing. Each trade relationship and diplomatic connection, however informal, reinforces Taiwan’s capacity to preserve its democratic character. For many, Taiwanese identity blends indigenous heritage, colonial influences, and modern democratic ideals—increasingly civic in nature and based on shared democratic values rather than purely ethnic considerations. As this article argues, Taiwan’s disHow Taiwan’s collective identity affects human rights and social justice Ying Wu Taiwan’s ever-evolving identity, shaped by colonialism, democratization, and resistance to authoritarianism, directly reinforces its human rights advancements. As citizens increasingly identify as Taiwanese alone, a feedback loop emerges, fueling democratic participation and rights protections, which in turn strengthen collective identity. Indigenous recognition, LGBTQIA+ policies, and civic actions like the Sunflower Movement exemplify how cultural self-definition drives democracy. Steadfast amid rising Chinese pressure, identity remains central to preserving Taiwan’s autonomy and liberal values. doi:10.18275/pbe-v043-011
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