Mainland Affairs Council

MAC: The majority of the public highly approve institutionalized cross-strait negotiations

Date: 2011-06-07

Press Release No. 041

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) announced today the results of its latest public opinion survey. The survey indicated that the majority of the public positively appraises institutionalized cross-strait negotiations, with over 70 percent of the public supporting the handling of issues related to cross-strait exchanges through institutionalized cross-strait negotiations. Regarding the results of signing 15 agreements during negotiations between the two sides, 62 percent of the public feel satisfied and over half of the public believe that the government has upheld Taiwan's interests.

      The survey also looked at the public's views on the issue of Taiwan's international participation. Over 63 percent of the public believe that the improvement of cross-strait relations is conducive to expanding Taiwan's international space. The survey found that 60 percent of the public believe that the policy of "flexible diplomacy" promoted by President Ma since he took office, resulting in the invitation for Taiwan to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer, is conducive to expanding Taiwan's international space.

      With regard to other cross-strait issues long and regularly observed by the MAC, the survey indicated that, the great majority of the public (88.4 percent) still advocate "maintaining the status quo defined in a broader sense," a figure that has remained highly stable. Regarding the current pace of cross-strait exchanges, the highest percentage of the public (46.1 percent) still believe the pace is "just right," followed by the percentages believing it is "too fast" (32.6 percent) and "too slow" (13.0 percent).

      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 27 to 30, 2011. A total of 1,099 effective samples were collected, with a sampling error of about 2.96 percent based on a 95 percent confidence level.

Mainland Affairs Council                                                                     Website: http://www.mac.gov.tw

Address: 16F, No. 2-2,

Summarized Results of the Public Opinion Survey on the

“Public's Views on Current Cross-Strait Relations”

(May 27 to 30, 2011)

l        Over 70 percent of the public support the handling of cross-strait exchange issues through institutionalized cross-strait negotiations.

l        62 percent of the public feel satisfied with the negotiation results of signing 15 cross-strait agreements during the Ma Administration, and over half of the public believe the government has upheld Taiwan's interests.

l        Over 63 percent of the public believe the improvement of cross-strait relations is conducive to expanding Taiwan's international space.

l        The overwhelming majority of the public (88.4 percent) still support maintaining the status quo defined in a broader sense (including "Maintaining the status quo and deciding on independence or unification later," "Maintaining the status quo and unification later," "Maintaining the status quo and independence later," and "Maintaining the status quo indefinitely").

I. Survey Background and Methods

        To understand the Taiwan people's views on issues related to cross-strait relations, the MAC commissioned the Election Study Center of National Chengchi University, to conduct a telephone interview of adults aged 20 and older in the Taiwan Area from May 27 to 30, 2011. A total of 1,099 effective samples were collected, with a sampling error of about 2.96 percent based on a 95 percent confidence level.

II. Major Findings

(1) Views on institutionalized cross-strait negotiations

        72.8 percent of the public support the handling of issues related to cross-strait exchanges through institutionalized negotiations, while 13.6 percent do not support this.

(2) Views on the results of negotiations between the SEF and the ARATS

        Over 60 percent of the public (62.2 percent) are satisfied with the negotiation results of 15 agreements signed since President Ma came into office, while 30.2 percent are unsatisfied. Regarding the 15 cross-strait agreements signed during the past Chiang-Chen Talks, over half of the public (51.2 percent) believe that the government has upheld Taiwan's interests, while 36.6 percent of the public believe it has not.

(3) Views on expanding Taiwan's international space

        63.7 percent of the public believe that the improvement of cross-strait relations is conducive to expanding Taiwan's international space, while 28.9 percent of the public believe it is not helpful. Furthermore, 60 percent of the public believe that the "flexible diplomacy" policy promoted by President Ma since he took office, resulting in the invitation for Taiwan to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer, is conducive to expanding Taiwan's international space.

(4) Views on the pace of cross-strait exchanges

        Regarding the current pace of cross-strait exchanges, the largest percentage of the public (46.1 percent) believe the pace is "just right," while 32.6 percent of the public believe it is "too fast" and 13 percent of the public think it is "too slow."

(5) Views on overall cross-strait relations

Over 50 percent of the public (51.3 percent) believe that cross-strait relations have become "more relaxed" under the Ma Administration, higher than the percentages believing relations are "more tense" (10.2 percent) and "unchanged" (32.3 percent).

(6) Views on unification or independence

        The overwhelming majority of the public (88.4 percent) support maintaining the status quo defined in a broader sense (including "Maintaining the status quo and deciding on independence or unification later," "Maintaining the status quo and unification later," "Maintaining the status quo and independence later," and "Maintaining the status quo indefinitely"). Of the six possible positions on this issue, "Maintaining the status quo and deciding on independence or unification later" enjoys the highest level of support (32.6 percent), followed by "Maintaining the status quo indefinitely" (27.2 percent).

(7) Public perception on the attitude of the Mainland government toward Taiwan

        53.6 percent of the public believe that the Mainland government's attitude toward the ROC government is "unfriendly," higher than the percentage (31.5 percent) believing it is "friendly." With regard to the Mainland government's attitude toward the Taiwan people, 44.7 percent of the public believe it is "unfriendly," slightly higher than the percentage (40.7 percent) believing it is “friendly.”

Percentage Distribution of the Routine Questionnaire Survey on the “Public's View on Current Cross-Strait Relations"

Survey Date: May 27 to 30, 2011

Number of Effective Samples: 1,099

Commissioning Agency: Mainland Affairs Council (MAC)

Survey Unit: Election Study Center of National Chengchi University

1. Do you believe that the mainland Chinese government's attitude toward the ROC government is friendly or unfriendly?

2. Do you believe that the mainland Chinese government's attitude toward the Taiwan people is friendly or unfriendly?

3. Do you feel the current pace of cross-strait exchanges is too fast, too slow, or just right?

4. Regarding the relations between Taiwan and mainland China, there are the following different views: 1. Unification as soon as possible; 2. Independence as soon as possible; 3. Maintaining the status quo and unification later; 4. Maintaining the status quo and independence later; 5. Maintaining the status quo and deciding on independence or unification later; 6. Maintaining the status quo indefinitely. Which of these positions do you lean toward?

5. Generally speaking, do you believe that under the Ma Administration, cross-strait relations have become more relaxed, more tense, or are unchanged?

6. Since coming into office, President Ma has promoted the policy of "flexible diplomacy" that has enabled Taiwan to be invited to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer. Do you believe this is conducive or unconducive to expanding Taiwan's international space?

7. Do you believe that the improvement of cross-strait relations is conducive or unconducive to expanding Taiwan's international space?

8. Do you support or not support the handling of cross-strait exchange issues through institutionalized negotiations?

9. Under the Ma Administration, the two sides have signed 15 agreements, including agreements on direct cross-strait transportation links, allowing Mainland tourists to visit Taiwan, joint crime-fighting, food safety, and the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA). Are you satisfied or unsatisfied with these negotiation outcomes?

10. Under the Ma Administration, the two sides have held six “Chiang-Chen Talks” and signed 15 agreements. Do you believe that the government has upheld Taiwan's interests or not?

2011