Date: May 17, 2018
MAC Press Release No. 35
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) today (May 17, 2018) announced the results of a public opinion survey on cross-Strait relations. The survey indicated that over 70% of the public support the government's firm defense of the nation's sovereignty and dignity and the well-being of the people, commitment to maintaining the status quo of cross-Strait peace and stability, and efforts to participate in the international community (73.3%); and support the position President Tsai Ing-wen has emphasized of firmly defending Taiwan's free and democratic way of life and the right of the people of Taiwan to choose their future (76.5%). Nearly 90% of the public think the two sides should engage in healthy and normal contact and exchanges (88.1%), while more than 80% of the public support the government's position that the two sides should respect each other and resolve differences through communication and dialogue without preconditions (83%).
The MAC stated that maintaining benign cross-Strait interactions is the joint responsibility of both sides and an important part of establishing regional security and stability. President Tsai also recently emphasized that the cross-Strait issue is not purely a cross-Strait issue, but has developed into a regional issue as all countries in the region affect each other. The survey showed that more than 80% of the public support the government's continued commitment to maintaining the status quo of cross-Strait peace and stability and approach of promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity with other countries in the region (87.2%). A similar percentage believes that mainland China should pragmatically face the Republic of China (ROC) and respect Taiwan's identity and that this would be beneficial to the long-term development of cross-Strait relations (80.2%).
The MAC indicated that the survey results also show that over 70% of the public disapprove mainland China's recent enticement of Dominican Republic to sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan and suppression of Taiwan's space for international survival (75.5%). More than 80% of the public believe that mainland China's political obstruction of Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly is detrimental to the health, rights, and interests of the Taiwanese people (83.3%) and that the Mainland's attempts to threaten Taiwan with force are not beneficial to the development of cross-Strait relations (88.5%). Additionally, 80% of the public do not identify with mainland China's repeated military and diplomatic pressuring of Taiwan to accept its position that "the two sides belong to one China" as a political precondition for cross-Strait interactions and Taiwan's international participation (80.5%).
The MAC stressed that, over the past two years, the government has been consistent and clear in its position on cross-Strait relations and has firmly upheld the status quo of cross-Strait peace and stability. This conforms to the interests of both sides of the Taiwan Strait and parties in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as meets the expectations of the international community. "Peace and communication" are the keys to achieving mutual benefit and co-prosperity across the Taiwan Strait. Facing the negative actions by mainland China, the government will firmly defend the sovereignty and dignity of the ROC and Taiwan's democratic system. It called on the other side to face the reality of separate government across the Taiwan Strait and to engage in constructive communication and dialogue without preconditions to support the positive development of cross-Strait relations.
The MAC commissioned Taiwan Real Survey Co., Ltd. to conduct this telephone survey of adults aged 20 and over in the Taiwan Area from May 11 to 13, 2018. A total of 1,077 valid samples were collected, with a sampling error of plus or minus 2.99% based on a 95% confidence level. The survey results were weighted by the respondents' gender, age, education level, and region after testing sample representativeness.