June 5, 2015
No. 29
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) announced today (June 5, 2015) the results of its latest public opinion survey for "Views on Exchange Visits between Heads of Cross-Strait Competent Authorities and on Cross-Strait Relations." The majority of the people agree that the meetings between heads of cross-strait competent authorities contribute to higher efficiency in handling cross-strait affairs (55.1%), numerous results reached between the two sides during the "Hsia-Zhang Meeting" this time benefit institutionalized cross-strait development (53.4%), and that the holding of the Kinmen "Hsia-Zhang Meeting" enables Mainland officials to experience the Kinmen battlefield history and thus further highlights the hard-earned peace in the Taiwan Strait (56.1%).
The MAC stated that more than half of the surveyed believe the agreement reached at the "Hsia-Zhang Meeting" to actively promote trade-in-goods agreement negotiations is conducive to cross-strait economic cooperation (51.8%), they also support prompt conclusion of negotiations concerning reciprocal institutions’ mutual establishment (61.8%) and hope for Mainland tourist transits in Taiwan to come into effect as soon as possible(51.1%). Moreover, the majority of the surveyed believe that MAC Minister Andrew Hsia's statement to the Mainland of our position of "dignified and equal" participation in Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the voicing of concerns over the draft charter of the AIIB are conducive to Taiwan's participation in the international community (53.3%); and support the expression of the MAC's solemn stance on the Mainland's draft National Security Law (63.3%).
The MAC indicated that the results of this public opinion survey show that 87% of the surveyed public support joint efforts by the two sides to fight major crimes through the liaison mechanism and enforcement platform, which underscores the public's eagerness to fight major crimes. The government will urge the Mainland to use the cross-strait liaison mechanism and enforcement platform to jointly fight crime and repatriate major economic criminals.
On issues of long-term concern in Kinmen, the survey found that nearly 60% of the public believe that the consensus between the Strait to promptly sign and implement a commercial contract for the Mainland to Kinmen water diversion would be conducive to the people's livelihood and also to Kinmen’s economic development (58.8%). The majority also think that the consensus reached between the two sides to synchronize enforcement by their respective law enforcement authorities through liaison mechanisms would be conducive to alleviating related problems such as cross-border fishing and illegal mining of sea sand (59.7%). Moreover, nearly 70% (69.6%) of the people think the exchange of views between the two sides on "expanding Mainland tourist travel to Kinmen" and "further facilitating Mini Three Links cargo clearance" was conducive to the prosperity and development of Kinmen.
The MAC indicated that, during the "Hsia-Zhang Meeting," both sides pragmatically resolved issues related to cross-strait exchanges. The results achieved are affirmed by the majority of the people. To meet public expectations, competent authorities on both sides will also promptly begin follow-up communication and consultations on and handling of related issues. In the future, the two sides will continue to promote and deepen the normalization of official cross-strait interactions, pragmatically handle cross-strait issues, promote mutual understanding, and enhance the rights, interests and well-being of the people to maintain peaceful development across the Strait.
The MAC commissioned Taiwan Real Survey Co., Ltd. to conduct a telephone survey of adults aged 20 and over in Taiwan on May 28 to 30, 2015. A total of 1,070 valid samples were collected, with a sampling error of plus or minus 3% at a 95% level of confidence.