MAC: The majority of the public supports the government's approach of maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait under the framework of the ROC Constitution and taking cross-strait relations in a positive direction
Date: May 17, 2012
Press Release No. 31
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) announces today (May 17, 2012) the results of its latest special survey reflecting the public opinion on future cross-strait relations, Mainland policy, institutionalized cross-strait negotiations, and Taiwan's participation in the international arena. The survey indicates that as high as 70 percent of the public support the government's approach of maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait over the next four years under the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of China (ROC) and based on the principle of "no unification, no independence, and no use of force." In addition, 66 percent of the public identify with the position that institutionalized negotiations are conducive to peace and stability of cross-strait relations. Furthermore, 62 percent of the public support the government's approach of prioritizing promotion of negotiations on economic issues and discussing issues in other areas later.
Regarding developments of the influence of Taiwan's core values and international participation, over 70 percent of the public surveyed this time believe that Taiwan's values of freedom and democracy have had a positive impact on the Mainland in the process of cross-strait exchanges. Moreover, 67 percent of the public agree that benign cross-strait interactions can be established through joint participation of both sides in international organizations and activities under the principles of parity and dignity. In addition, regarding the negotiation issues at the Eighth Chiang-Chen Talks, nearly 70 percent (69.1 percent) and more than 78 percent (78.8 percent) of the public approve of the government's negotiation and signing of the Cross-Strait Investment Protection Agreement and the Cross-Strait Customs Cooperation Agreement, respectively.
The government's consistent position on Mainland policy has been that ROC is a sovereign and independent country. It has sought to maintain the status quo of "no unification, no independence and no use of force" in the Taiwan Strait under the framework of the ROC Constitution, and to promote institutionalized negotiations and maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait based on the principle of "putting Taiwan first for the benefit of the people." In the future, the government's policy will continue to pay heed to public opinion, promote sound and positive cross-strait relations, uphold the principle of handling "easy issues before difficult ones, urgent matters before less-pressing ones, and economic matters before political ones," and prioritize treatment of issues related to cross-strait economic and trade relations, exchanges, and the rights and interests of the people.
The MAC commissioned the Election Study Center of National Chengchi University to conduct a telephone survey of adults aged 20 and over in the Taiwan Area from May 3 to 6, 2012. A total of 1,075 effective samples were collected, with a sampling error of 2.99 percent based on a 95 percent confidence level.