Anti-Taiwanese sentiment

Anti-Taiwanese sentiment refers to the general dislike or hatred of the Taiwanese people or Taiwanese culture. Anti-Taiwanese sentiment (反臺灣) is often related to but can be distinct from sentiments against Taiwan independence (反臺獨).

People's Republic of China

In the 21st century, anti-Taiwan Jingoism has emerged rapidly in the People's Republic of China, particularly on the Chinese internet.^[1] The Chinese government has at times denied that anti-Taiwanese sentiment is present in mainland China, insisting that residents are only opposed to Taiwanese independence. In 2016, the Taiwan Affairs Office declared that "there is no anti-Taiwan sentiment among the people in mainland China, only anti-Taiwan independence".^[2] However, scholars have pointed to examples of Chinese netizens attacking Taiwanese people and culture to argue that anti-Taiwanese sentiment is a growing trend on the Chinese internet.^[3][4] The China Times published an editorial in 2016 arguing that "anti-China" sentiment had long been present in Taiwan and that "anti-Taiwanese independence" sentiment had long been present in China, but that "anti-Taiwan" sentiment in Chinese civil society was a new and growing phenomenon.^[5] In 2018, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office blamed Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party for "triggering the emotions" of mainland netizens while insisting that anti-Taiwanese sentiment was not representative of China's stance.^[6]

Chinese authorities have also attempted to discourage anti-Taiwan rhetoric. Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, declared in 2021 that mainland netizens should "fight against Taiwanese independence" but not against Taiwan.^[7] During a coordinated campaign in 2016 by Chinese internet users to leave anti-independence messages on the Facebook page of newly elected president Tsai Ing-wen, organizers unsuccessfully insisted that participants should only attack the idea of Taiwanese independence rather than Taiwanese people or culture.^{[4][page needed]}

Relationship with anti-Chinese sentiment

Main articles: Anti-Chinese sentiment and Anti-Han sentiment

Anti-Taiwanese sentiment is sometimes motivated by anti-Chinese sentiment because of the existence of a perception that Taiwanese is ethnically close to Chinese;^[8] during the 2014 Vietnam anti-China protests, anti-Taiwanese sentiment emerged as an extension of anti-Chinese sentiment.^[9] In contrast, politically pro-China attitudes sometimes lead to anti-Taiwan.^[vague][10]

See also

• 2022 Laguna Woods shooting
• Chinese imperialism
• Pro-Taiwanese sentiment
• "Spiritually Japanese", a ethnic slur used by anti-Japanese mainland Chinese to demean Taiwanese who are more friendly to Japan.