TAIWAN'S ONTOLOGICAL SECURITY UNDER TSAI ING-WEN'S PROGRESSIVE POLICIES

Abstract

This article investigates the impact of Tsai Ing-wen’s policies on Taiwan's ontological security, emphasizing her transformative leadership and its implications for national identity and stability. The importance of this topic lies in understanding how Tsai Ing-wen’s progressive approach has fortified Taiwan’s ontological security amidst a complex geopolitical landscape. Despite the significance of this area, there is a research gap regarding the specific influence of Tsai Ing-wen’s policies on Taiwan’s ontological security. This article uses an ontological security framework based on leadership studies, with a view to studying the effects of Tsai’s policies on Taiwan’s sense of identity and sovereignty through quantitative research methodology. By examining Taiwan’s relations with China and international positioning, the study explores the contribution of Tsai’s leadership to Taiwan’s ontological security. The research findings reveal that her policies, focused on asserting Taiwan’s autonomy, fostering democratic values, and enhancing international engagement, have strengthened Taiwan’s national identity and stability. In summary, the research demonstrates how her leadership approach has positively influenced Taiwan’s sense of self amidst a complex geopolitical landscape. This study brings important insight into how to understand ontological security within the context of Taiwan’s political landscape through its examination of such a dynamic relationship among leaders, policy and identity.