This　article　examined　cultural　variations　on　the　relations　of　social　competence　to　competence　and　trustworthiness　and　the　importance　of　these　dimensions　in　deciding　social　outcomes.　Participants　made　judgments　of　personality　traits　based　on　inferences　from　faces　of　political　candidates　in　the　United　States　and　Taiwan.　Social　competence　was　distinct　from　competence　but　related　to　trustworthiness　among　U.S.　participants,　whereas　social　competence　was　related　to　competence　but　distinct　from　trustworthiness　among　Chinese　participants.　With　respect　to　winning　actual　past　elections,　perceived　competence　was　more　important　for　candidates　in　the　United　States　than　for　those　in　Taiwan,　whereas　perceived　social　competence　was　more　important　for　candidates　in　Taiwan　than　for　those　in　the　United　States.　With　regard　to　predicting　participants＇　hypothetical　voting　choices,　competence　was　valued　more　among　U.S.　voters,　whereas　trustworthiness　was　favored　more　among　Chinese　voters.　The　role　of　culture　in　affecting　the　function　of　these　dimensions　in　social　perception　and　judgment　is　discussed.　©　The　Author(s)　2016.