Description
Taiwan is a key player in the global economy and geopolitics, given its dominance in semiconductor manufacturing and its strategic location in the Taiwan Strait. The One China Principle, proposed by the Beijing government, asserts that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and that any country establishing diplomatic relations with China must break official ties with Taiwan. This constrains Taiwan’s formal diplomatic relations with the UK and engagement with global affairs. Without official channels, cultivating informal relationships through educational exchanges, and Soft Power becomes more significant. This study seeks to investigate how British exchange students' perceptions of Taiwan change following exchange programs and how they translate these attitudes into behavioural intentions upon returning home. Longitudinal in-depth semi-structured interviews with 15 British exchange students, 15 international students, and five program coordinators will be conducted. Theoretically, this research provides an insight into the correlations between two dimensions of Soft Power: attitudinal change and behavioural intention, utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior, which has been uncovered in international relations. Practically, the findings will be valuable for policymakers in leveraging educational exchange programs as means to improve bilateral relations.