MAC Press Release No. 47
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) today (November 12, 2020) announced the results of a routine public opinion survey. The survey indicated that about 80% of the public support the President’s National Day Address emphasizing that maintaining cross-Strait stability is not a duty that Taiwan can shoulder alone, but a joint responsibility of both sides (79.8%). The public also support working with Beijing in facilitating meaningful dialogue while parity and dignity are maintained (85.3%). The MAC stated that the survey results highlight mainstream public support in Taiwan for President Tsai's cross-Strait policy positions and measures.
The MAC indicated that the survey shows that the people of Taiwan oppose the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) unilateral political framework and intimidation acts. As high as 90% of the public oppose the CCP's use of force to threaten Taiwan (90.3%). Similarly, 87% of the public oppose the CCP's criticism of US arms sales as Taiwan colluding with foreign powers and undermining peace in the Taiwan Strait, on which it threats to impose necessary sanctions (87.1%) and "one country, two systems" (86.7%). Over 70% of the public disagree with the CCP’s positions on adhering to the "1992 Consensus" embodying the "one China” principle and opposition to “Taiwan independence” (74.4%). In similar percentages, the public support the government to uphold sovereignty, defend democracy and freedom, and reject the "one country, two systems model for Taiwan" to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait (75.9%). The public also support the continuous strengthening of cooperation with the US to reinforce national security and self-defense capabilities (73.4%).
The survey further showed that nearly 70% of the people support both the government's amendment of five national security related laws and enactment of the Anti-Infiltration Act, and its continued efforts to promote related legal amendments to strengthen defense for democracy (68.6%). Regarding other issues long observed by the MAC, the great majority of the public continue to advocate "maintaining the status quo defined in a broader sense" (87.6%), believe the Chinese authorities’ attitude towards the ROC government (74.0%) and people (56.9%) is unfriendly, and agree that Taiwan's future and the development of cross-Strait relations must be decided by the 23 million people of Taiwan (86.4%), maintaining a long-term stable trend.
The MAC stressed that the CCP has recently continued to intensify military intimidation against Taiwan, undermine peace in the Taiwan Strait, and repeatedly try to pressure Taiwan into accepting its unilateral "one China” political framework. The acts have induced widespread antipathy and firm rejection by the people of Taiwan. In the face of new challenges, the government will continue to closely watch and duly respond to developments, and firmly defend national sovereignty, democracy, and freedom. We also called on the Beijing authorities to face up to the cross-Strait reality and public opinion in Taiwan, courageously take the responsibility in maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait, stop imposing its will on others, and jointly consider ways for peaceful coexistence.
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 November 6 to 10, 2020. A total of 1,074 valid samples were collected, a sampling error of plus or minus 2.99% at a 95% level of confidence.