<p>Ken Young and Kylie Wang, hosts of a popular daily news podcast, say they feel Taiwanese and not Chinese -- a belief shared by many young people on the self-ruled island.</p>.<p>Beijing views Taiwan as part of China and has intensified pressure on Taipei in recent years, pushing political tensions between the two to dizzying heights.</p>.<p>For younger Taiwanese people, the growing antagonism has cemented a distinct identity rooted in democracy -- and not China's authoritarianism.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/china-vows-no-mercy-for-taiwan-independence-diehards-1047617.html" target="_blank">China vows no mercy for Taiwan independence 'diehards'</a></strong></p>.<p>"For me, identifying myself as a Taiwanese means all the things that I am proud of," 38-year-old Young told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p>"We support human rights, we support LGBT rights, you know, and we support freedom of speech," said the podcast host, wearing a black baseball cap with "Taiwan" embossed in red across the front.</p>.<p>For decades after Taiwan split from the mainland in 1949, when nationalist forces lost a civil war to the communists, people on the island saw their leaders as the true representatives of all of China.</p>.<p>But as Taiwan moved from an autocracy to democracy in the 1990s, "a strong civic identity" was forged through "the process of democratisation", Wu Rwei-ren, an expert on Taiwan's history at Academia Sinica, told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p>"It's not based on race or blood but... on the sentiments that we are a country with democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law, and we can participate in the political decision-making," Wu said.</p>.<p>A recent poll released by Taiwan's National Chengchi University shows that less than three per cent of people on the island identify as Chinese, a record low, down from nearly 26 per cent in 1992.</p>.<p>Over 60 per cent identify as solely Taiwanese.</p>.<p>"China's increasingly aggressive policies" have resulted in Taiwanese people seeing it as foreign and even as "an enemy country," Wu said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/taiwan-says-china-seeking-to-degrade-its-military-and-morale-1048852.html" target="_blank">Taiwan says China seeking to degrade its military and morale</a></strong></p>.<p>Administrative assistant Lin Yu-han, 22, worries Taiwan could go the way of Hong Kong, where Beijing's sweeping national security law has criminalised dissent and created an environment of fear.</p>.<p>"What has been happening in Hong Kong has made me realise how terrible China is. I don't want Hong Kong's today to become Taiwan's tomorrow," Lin said.</p>.<p>Beijing has vowed to seize Taiwan one day, by force if necessary. President Xi Jinping recently said the island's unification with China "will be fulfilled".</p>.<p>But most Taiwanese reject the possibility of being ruled by Beijing, with less than eight per cent in support of gradual or swift unification.</p>.<p>Tensions have intensified since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who views the island as a sovereign nation, came to power in 2016.</p>.<p>"We want to protect the right to love our democracy, our freedom," podcast host Wang said.</p>.<p>"I keep on saying I am Taiwanese because we think that the more people see themselves as Taiwanese and love our country, love our land, that can protect us from being invaded."</p>.<p>Liljay Chen, 36, fronts a hip hop band that performs at street protests and runs a business selling pro-independence T-shirts and baseball caps.</p>.<p>"I am Taiwanese, I am not Chinese. Taiwan is a country and China is a country. We are equal," he told <em>AFP </em>at his store.</p>.<p>On display is a red baseball cap reminiscent of the hats worn by former US president Donald Trump. This one reads: "Make China Lose Again".</p>.<p>Other products sport slogans such as "Taiwan independence" and "Taiwan is not part of China".</p>.<p>"For young people, the main difference between Taiwan and China is the freedom to create freely and free access to any social media," Chen said.</p>.<p>For some older residents, however, there is no conflict in being both Taiwanese and Chinese.</p>.<p>"I identify myself as Chinese by blood and culture as my grandparents and parents came from China. I am also Taiwanese since I was born and raised in Taiwan," said Hu Min-yueh, 56, a pastor and the grandson of a well-known general who came to Taiwan in 1949.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/ahead-of-china-talks-us-says-goal-to-prevent-taiwan-invasion-1049457.html" target="_blank">Ahead of China talks, US says goal to prevent Taiwan invasion</a></strong></p>.<p>But for many younger people, the island's historical connections with China do not define them.</p>.<p>"I am Taiwanese and we are a country," said student Ayden Lai, 17, while taking a break from dance practice with his high school friends.</p>.<p>"I think most young people don't feel any attachment to China."</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>Ken Young and Kylie Wang, hosts of a popular daily news podcast, say they feel Taiwanese and not Chinese -- a belief shared by many young people on the self-ruled island.</p>.<p>Beijing views Taiwan as part of China and has intensified pressure on Taipei in recent years, pushing political tensions between the two to dizzying heights.</p>.<p>For younger Taiwanese people, the growing antagonism has cemented a distinct identity rooted in democracy -- and not China's authoritarianism.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/china-vows-no-mercy-for-taiwan-independence-diehards-1047617.html" target="_blank">China vows no mercy for Taiwan independence 'diehards'</a></strong></p>.<p>"For me, identifying myself as a Taiwanese means all the things that I am proud of," 38-year-old Young told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p>"We support human rights, we support LGBT rights, you know, and we support freedom of speech," said the podcast host, wearing a black baseball cap with "Taiwan" embossed in red across the front.</p>.<p>For decades after Taiwan split from the mainland in 1949, when nationalist forces lost a civil war to the communists, people on the island saw their leaders as the true representatives of all of China.</p>.<p>But as Taiwan moved from an autocracy to democracy in the 1990s, "a strong civic identity" was forged through "the process of democratisation", Wu Rwei-ren, an expert on Taiwan's history at Academia Sinica, told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p>"It's not based on race or blood but... on the sentiments that we are a country with democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law, and we can participate in the political decision-making," Wu said.</p>.<p>A recent poll released by Taiwan's National Chengchi University shows that less than three per cent of people on the island identify as Chinese, a record low, down from nearly 26 per cent in 1992.</p>.<p>Over 60 per cent identify as solely Taiwanese.</p>.<p>"China's increasingly aggressive policies" have resulted in Taiwanese people seeing it as foreign and even as "an enemy country," Wu said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/taiwan-says-china-seeking-to-degrade-its-military-and-morale-1048852.html" target="_blank">Taiwan says China seeking to degrade its military and morale</a></strong></p>.<p>Administrative assistant Lin Yu-han, 22, worries Taiwan could go the way of Hong Kong, where Beijing's sweeping national security law has criminalised dissent and created an environment of fear.</p>.<p>"What has been happening in Hong Kong has made me realise how terrible China is. I don't want Hong Kong's today to become Taiwan's tomorrow," Lin said.</p>.<p>Beijing has vowed to seize Taiwan one day, by force if necessary. President Xi Jinping recently said the island's unification with China "will be fulfilled".</p>.<p>But most Taiwanese reject the possibility of being ruled by Beijing, with less than eight per cent in support of gradual or swift unification.</p>.<p>Tensions have intensified since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who views the island as a sovereign nation, came to power in 2016.</p>.<p>"We want to protect the right to love our democracy, our freedom," podcast host Wang said.</p>.<p>"I keep on saying I am Taiwanese because we think that the more people see themselves as Taiwanese and love our country, love our land, that can protect us from being invaded."</p>.<p>Liljay Chen, 36, fronts a hip hop band that performs at street protests and runs a business selling pro-independence T-shirts and baseball caps.</p>.<p>"I am Taiwanese, I am not Chinese. Taiwan is a country and China is a country. We are equal," he told <em>AFP </em>at his store.</p>.<p>On display is a red baseball cap reminiscent of the hats worn by former US president Donald Trump. This one reads: "Make China Lose Again".</p>.<p>Other products sport slogans such as "Taiwan independence" and "Taiwan is not part of China".</p>.<p>"For young people, the main difference between Taiwan and China is the freedom to create freely and free access to any social media," Chen said.</p>.<p>For some older residents, however, there is no conflict in being both Taiwanese and Chinese.</p>.<p>"I identify myself as Chinese by blood and culture as my grandparents and parents came from China. I am also Taiwanese since I was born and raised in Taiwan," said Hu Min-yueh, 56, a pastor and the grandson of a well-known general who came to Taiwan in 1949.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/ahead-of-china-talks-us-says-goal-to-prevent-taiwan-invasion-1049457.html" target="_blank">Ahead of China talks, US says goal to prevent Taiwan invasion</a></strong></p>.<p>But for many younger people, the island's historical connections with China do not define them.</p>.<p>"I am Taiwanese and we are a country," said student Ayden Lai, 17, while taking a break from dance practice with his high school friends.</p>.<p>"I think most young people don't feel any attachment to China."</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>