Taiwan poll finds most identify with Chinese ethnicity

2015/09/30

The majority of people in Taiwan consider themselves ethnically Chinese, according to a survey released Sept. 23 by nongovernmental organization Taiwan Competitiveness Forum.

Conducted quarterly, the poll found 83.6 percent of respondents see themselves part of the ethnic Chinese community on the basis of shared cultural heritage, ethnicity, history and language.

Hsieh Ming-hui, CEO of Taipei City-based TCF, said the number has topped 80 percent in recent surveys. “This cultural identification remains highly stable in the run up to the ROC presidential election in January next year.”

Of the three leading candidates for the ROC's top job, the survey found Hung Hsiu-chu of the ruling Kuomintang won 19.1 percent support for her cross-strait policy. James Soong of the People First Party and Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party garnered 10.8 percent and 25.3 percent, respectively.

Hsieh said Taiwan-mainland China relations are not expected to play a major role in the election, as 53 percent of respondents said this does not factor into their votes and 68.8 percent believe the importance of cross-strait ties is recognized across party lines.

The survey also revealed that 82.3 percent are in favor of the cross-strait status quo of no unification, no independence and no use of force.

Hsieh said Taipei and Beijing should pay careful attention to this fact and re-examine respective approaches to promoting bilateral exchanges. “Leaders of both sides would do well to listen to the people and keep the development of this special relationship on a steady track.”

According to the poll, when asked whether Taiwan people are ethnic Chinese, 47.7 percent of respondents replied in the affirmative. TCF attributes the record-low figure to tensions in recent cross-strait affairs.

At the same time, a total of 47.6 percent believe it is acceptable to assert one’s Taiwan identity at home and claim to be Chinese while visiting mainland China for business or other purposes.

Conducted Sept. 16-17 through telephone interviews, the survey involved 1,087 individuals aged 20 and above. It has a 95 percent confidence level and a margin of error of 3 percent.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=237126&ctNode=2194&mp=9)