How the narrative of China as a threat evolved into a populist attitude in Taiwan during the administration of the Democratic Progressive Party (2016–24).

This article analyzes the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) use of "anti-China" populism in Taiwan, characterizing it as a form of "populism of the privileged" wherein a relatively advantaged group constructs a narrative of victimhood to mobilize political support. Despite Taiwan’s perceived economic, political, and cultural superiority over mainland China, the DPP amplifies a "China threat" narrative that frames cross-strait relations as a moral and existential struggle between a democratic, victimized Taiwan and an authoritarian, threatening China. This populist discourse employs dichotomies such as "threatening Taiwan" versus "defending Taiwan," "beacon of democracy" versus "authoritarian threat," and "disruptor of international order" versus "defender of international order," aligning closely with Western liberal internationalist rhetoric and U.S. strategic narratives. The article argues that while this rhetoric consolidates the DPP’s political legitimacy, it exacerbates cross-strait tensions, undermines peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific, and may lose effectiveness as younger Taiwanese engage more with mainland China.