The legacy of Japan's colonial past : cultural influences on Taiwanese identity and implications for cross-strait relations
Document Type
Book chapter
Source Publication
The United States between China and Japan
Edition
Unabridged edition
Publication Date
2013
First Page
296
Last Page
319
Publisher
Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Abstract
In what follows, we will examine how local Taiwanese people during colonial rule where "Japanized" in some respects but displayed a form of resistance in other respects. In the post-war period and especially after Lee Teng-hui assumed office in 1988, local people even displayed a form of "resistance of culture" in their definition and understanding of what is meant by "Taiwanese culture" and "Taiwanese identity." As we shall see, Lee advocated a highly controversial thesis of "two Chinas" in 1999. We argue that this thesis was precisely a result of the "resistance of culture" displayed by local people. We conclude that the history of Taiwan in the last century should be characterized as a mixture of globalisation, cultures of resistance and "resistance of culture." More importantly, Lee's "two Chinas" thesis has become a key issue in the internal politics of the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and external politics between Taiwan and China.
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2013 by Caroline Rose and Victor Teo and contributors.
Additional Information
ISBN of the source publication: 9781443842334
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Yau, H.-Y. & Wong, H.-W. (2013). The legacy of Japan's colonial past: Cultural influences on Taiwanese identity and implications for cross-strait relations. In C. Rose & V. Teo (Eds.), The United States between China and Japan (pp. 296-319). Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.