Date: June 4, 2020
MAC Press Release No. 34
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) today (June 4, 2020) announced the results of a public opinion survey. The survey results indicated that mainstream public opinion in Taiwan identifies with President Tsai Ing-wen's policy position on the development of cross-Strait relations. Nearly 90% (88.2%) of the public support the President's reiteration of the principles of "peace, parity, democracy, and dialogue". More than 80% (81.6%) support the President's stance that both sides have a duty to find a way to coexist over the long term and that the leader on the other side of the Strait should take on the same responsibility and work with Taiwan to jointly stabilize the development of cross-Strait relations. Nearly 80% (79.1%) of the public approve the President's position that Taiwan will not accept the Beijing authorities' use of "one country, two systems" to downgrade Taiwan and undermine the cross-Strait status quo. About 70% (70.1%) support the President's emphasis on continuing to handle cross-Strait affairs according to the ROC Constitution and the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.
The MAC indicated that the survey showed more than 80% (82%) of the public oppose the CCP's formulation of a "national security law for Hong Kong", believing that it would infringe Hong Kong's democracy, freedom, and judicial independence and would undermine the "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong. About 70% (70.8%) support the President's proposal to actively improve related humanitarian relief work and provide necessary assistance to the Hong Kong people on existing foundation, and back the MAC's prompt inter-agency coordination on a humanitarian assistance action plan proposal to aid Hong Kong (68.6%). The survey also showed that about 90% of the public oppose the emphasis of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) at an Anti-Secession Law symposium of using legal and military means against Taiwan (88.9%), they also oppose the CCP's political obstruction of Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly (92.9%), and oppose the CCP’s continued dispatching of military aircraft and ships to conduct multiple navigation drills around the Taiwan area to militarily threaten Taiwan (91.1%).
In addition, more than 80% (81%) of the public support the government for being aware of the Mainland’s epidemic situation in the initial stage, and also support the issuance of timely travel alerts, implementation of control measures on cross-Strait flights and personnel exchanges. Over 70% (71.8%) of the public approve of the gradual resumption of cross-Strait personnel contact and exchanges, giving priority to business, education, and humanitarian needs, as the epidemic in mainland China subsides and comes under control. Over 70% (76.7%) of the public do not identify with the CCP’s Taiwan-related united front efforts of attracting talent, technology, and capital away from Taiwan and attempts to win over Taiwan's business community. A similar percentage (72.7%) approve the government's amendment of the five national security related laws and the passage of the Anti-Infiltration Act, and also approve of continued promotion on related legal amendments aimed to improve the legal system defending Taiwan democracy.
The MAC pointed out that, the CCP continues to resort to political positions and negative military and diplomatic actions unacceptable to the Taiwanese people. Its intimidation, suppression, and united front division of Taiwan are detrimental to the healthy development of cross-Strait interaction. The government is determined to defend sovereignty and democracy, and is committed to maintaining the status quo of cross-Strait peace and stability. We call on the Beijing authorities to face up to the cross-Strait reality, respect public opinion in Taiwan, and pragmatically develop sound and orderly exchanges and interaction between the two sides on the basis President Tsai repeatedly states of "peace, parity, democracy, and dialogue."
Between the dates May 29th to May 31st,2020, the MAC commissioned the Taiwan Real Survey Co., Ltd. to conduct a telephone survey on adults aged 20 and over. A total of 1,070 valid samples were collected, with a sampling error of plus or minus 3% at a 95% level of confidence.