Political Parties, Public Opinion, and Legislation on Cross-Strait Relations

• In Event: Elites vs. the Public in Taiwan

Abstract

In the dynamic field of legislative work, legislators are continually navigating the dual pressures of political parties and constituency demands. This study explores how these pressures influence legislative behavior, focusing on the “Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area” as a case study. While political scientists have extensively studied Cross-Strait relations, the specific role of the Legislative Yuan in shaping these relations has not been thoroughly examined. This research fills this gap by analyzing legislative participation in the context of party competition and voter concerns.

The study examines legislators' responses to party and constituency influences in two dimensions: the direction and intensity of legislative participation. Key findings indicate that party affiliation significantly determines the direction of legislators' actions in Cross-Strait relations legislation. Legislators within the same party exhibit strong homogeneity, suggesting a collective effort to align with party ideology and shape its public image. The pan-blue camp, including Kuomintang (KMT), People First Party (PFP), and New Party (NP), tends to propose legislation favorable to Cross-Strait exchanges. In contrast, the pan-green camp, including the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) are more inclined to introduce bills that hinder Cross-Strait exchanges.

Furthermore, despite the overall homogeneity within parties, legislators' behaviors vary based on their electoral districts. Active legislative participation is more likely when a legislator’s district stance on independence or unification aligns with their party's stance. Conversely, a mismatch between district and party stances leads to more passive legislative involvement. Additionally, legislators from districts with a higher concentration of business or high-tech industries tend to be more engaged in drafting positive legislation for Cross-Strait exchanges. This article suggests that a legislator’s party affiliation, the district's political stance, and its economic profile are critical factors influencing their participation in legislation concerning Cross-Strait relations.

Authors

• Yu-Ceng Liao, Academia Sinica

• Shing-Yuan Sheng, National Chengchi University

• Yen-Chieh Liao, University of Essex