MAC poll finds majority in Taiwan back government’s cross-strait policies

2018/05/21

The majority of people in Taiwan support the government’s cross-strait policies and disapprove of Beijing’s military threats and efforts to suppress the country’s international space, according to a poll released May 17 by the Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council.
 
 Around 73 percent of respondents back the government’s measures over the past two years to safeguard national dignity and sovereignty, protect the well-being of the people, maintain the cross-strait status quo and promote Taiwan’s international participation. In addition, 76.5 percent support the government’s determination to defend the people’s free and democratic way of life and their right to decide Taiwan’s future.
 
 In the wake of recent provocative moves by mainland China, 83.3 percent of respondents believe that Beijing’s political interference blocking Taiwan’s participation in the 71st World Health Assembly infringes on the people’s fundamental right to health.
 
 Similarly, nearly 89 percent of respondents disapprove of mainland China’s continued actions to stoke cross-strait tensions such as conducting military drills, while 75.5 percent oppose Beijing’s use of dollar diplomacy in enticing the Dominican Republic to break diplomatic ties May 1.
 
 To promote the development of cross-strait relations, 83 percent of respondents said that mainland China should set aside differences and engage in communication without political conditions. Over 88 percent said that both sides have the joint responsibility to foster mutually beneficial interactions and should seek out opportunities for healthy exchanges.
 
 According to the MAC, embracing this shared obligation is key to maintaining cross-strait peace and stability. Only by putting differences to one side and pursuing dialogue without political conditions can ties advance, the council said.
 
 Mainland China must accept the fact that the two sides are under separate rule, the MAC said, adding the government is committed to safeguarding Taiwan’s sovereignty, democracy and national dignity.
 
 Conducted May 11-13 by New Taipei City-based Taiwan Real Survey Co., the telephone poll canvassed 1,077 adults over 20 years of age nationwide. It has a margin of error of 2.99 percent and a 95 percent confidence level.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2&post=134601)