有關民族認同的兩個基本假設是：一、認同的本質就是對比、差異與分裂，而融合屬於建構的過程，目的是消除差異而達到新的認同。二、台灣認同之所以出現，恰恰是相對於共產主義中國而形成的差異，包括民主自由與一黨專政的對立、社會價值一元與多元的摩擦，政策上壓制與反抗的互動的整體歷史積累。「台灣認同」與「中國認同」最大的差異即在：我可不可以選擇。

There are two basic assumptions about national identity. First, while the essence of identify is contrast, difference and division, fusion is the process of construction in order to eliminate the differences and achieve a new identity. Second, Taiwan’s identity has arisen precisely relative to the formation of communist China differences, including democracy and freedom relative to the one-party dictatorship, single social value relative to diversity of social value, suppression relative to resistance. The largest difference between “Taiwan identity” and “Chinese identity” is whether I have a choice.