MAC Press Release No. 002
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) today (March 25, 2021) announced the results of a routine public opinion survey. The survey indicated that between 70% and 80% of the public support President Tsai Ing-wen's emphasis that, while parity and dignity are maintained, the government is willing to facilitate meaningful dialogue with the Beijing authorities (75.6%). The public also support that, when the pandemic is under control, relevant government agencies will hold discussion on a gradual resumption of normal and orderly cross-Strait exchanges (81.8%, 82.0%). The MAC stated that the government's cross-Strait policy is supported by mainstream public opinion. At the moment, the government has, in reference to scientific indicators of the pandemic and development of cross-Strait situations, initiated a staged discussion on measures related to personnel and transport exchanges. It has also called on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to resolve issues through communication and dialogue.
The MAC pointed out that the majority of the people in Taiwan oppose the CCP’s "one country, two systems" model (88.2%) and do not identify with the CCP's positions such as the "1992 Consensus" embodying the "one China” principle (74.9%). A similar percentage support the government to enhance Taiwan's self-defense and safeguard national sovereignty and Taiwan's democracy (82.8%). Regarding the CCP’s recent passage of an overhaul of Hong Kong's electoral system, over 70% of the public support that the government calls on the CCP to stop suppressing Hong Kong's democracy and freedom and maintain a high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong instead (75.5%). The survey results reflect public opinion in Taiwan on recent related developments.
The MAC stressed that to maintain the order of exchanges and respond to the CCP’s promotion of the so-called “beneficial to Taiwan,” “equal treatment,” and other united front integration work, the survey indicated that over 70% of the public support the government to refer to practices adopted by other countries to strengthen safety management for mainland Chinese visiting Taiwan (79.4%) and remind the public of potential risks in making investment in mainland China (75.8%). Regarding the CCP's suspension of pineapple imports from Taiwan due to quarantine issues, more than 80% of the public approve the government's stance that the two sides should resort to platforms of cross-Strait agreements for communication and resolve the problems pragmatically (81.9%). In addition, regarding other issues long observed by the MAC, the public advocating "maintaining the status quo defined in a broader sense" still account for the greatest majority (85.8%). Most respondents believe that the Chinese authorities’ attitude towards the ROC government (77.2%) and people of Taiwan (60.6%) is unfriendly. The public also agree that Taiwan's future and the development of cross-Strait relations must be decided by the 23 million people of Taiwan (84.7%), maintaining a long-term stable trend.
The MAC emphasized that, the government's policy position of safeguarding national sovereignty and Taiwan's democracy and its commitment to upholding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait remain firm and consistent. The government will continue to promote policy measures that increase cross-Strait understandings and mutual benefits while maintaining normal and healthy cross-Strait exchanges and management. The MAC also called on the Beijing authorities to face the reality and public opinion in Taiwan, to put aside the political framework and militarily threats it has been imposing on Taiwan, resolve problems with mutual respect and through pragmatic dialogue, and make equivalent efforts for resuming exchanges and interaction. This will be helpful for the positive development of cross-Strait relations.
The MAC commissioned the Election Study Center of National Chengchi University to conduct a telephone survey of adults aged 20 and over in Taiwan from March 19 to 23, 2021. A total of 1,078 valid samples were obtained, with a sampling error of plus or minus 2.99% at a 95% level of confidence.