Do cross-polity contacts change policy preferences? Using the attitudes of Taiwanese student delegations visiting Mainland China towards unification–independence as an example

Abstract Does the experience of visiting Mainland China change the attitude of Taiwanese youth towards the unification–independence issue? What are the factors influencing such a change, if any? In this article, a panel study was conducted of 538 Taiwanese youths visiting Mainland China. Four hypotheses were proposed based on social contact theory and rational choice theory and then validated using a regression model. After visiting Mainland China, 17.57% and 15.89% of the Taiwanese students shifted to support for unification and independence respectively, whereas 66.54% indicated no changes in their stance. They increasingly favored unification with an improved impression of Mainland China, reduced hostility, increased willingness to integrate into China, and a decline in their evaluation of Taiwan’s democracy. These findings corroborated the effects of true acquaintances, casual contacts, and the maximization of self-interest advocated by theories of social contact and rational choice.