MAC: High level of public support for the position that
institutionalized cross-strait negotiations are conducive to the peace and stability
of cross-strait relations
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) announced the results of its
latest public opinion survey today (May 7, 2010). As high as nearly 70 percent (69
percent) of the public believe that institutionalized cross-strait negotiations
are conducive to the peace and stability of cross-strait relations, while nearly
60 percent (57.4 percent) of the public agree that cross-strait economic and trade
exchanges and negotiations will be conducive to Taiwan's economic development both
in Asia and in the world. At the same time, over half of the public (54.1 percent)
believe that cross-strait relations have become more relaxed, while only about 10
percent (14.3 percent) of the public believe relations are more tense.
The MAC states that since May 20, 2008, the government has adhered
firmly to the course of promoting institutionalized cross-strait negotiations to
safeguard Taiwan and to work for the benefit of the people, winning public support
and approval.
Regarding the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA),
nearly 60 percent (58.9 percent) of the public believe that signing the ECFA with
mainland China will be conducive to Taiwan's economic development, and over 50 percent
(53.1 percent) of the public support the government in signing the ECFA with the
Mainland. The survey results indicated that the majority of the public positively
assesses the government's promotion of the ECFA.
As for the public's views on topics long observed regularly by
the MAC, an overwhelming majority of the public (88 percent) still advocate "maintaining
the status quo defined in a broader sense," a figure that has remained highly stable.
Moreover, the largest percentage of the public (40.9 percent) believe the current
pace of cross-strait exchanges is "just right," higher than the percentages saying
the pace is "too fast" (37.3 percent) or "too slow" (12.3 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 April 29 to May 2. A total of 1,087 effective samples were collected,
with a sampling error of 2.97 percent based on a 95 percent confidence level.
Appendix Ι:
Summarized Results of the Public Opinion Survey on the "Public's View on Current
Cross-Strait Relations" (April 29 ~ May 2, 2010)
Appendix II:
Percentage Distribution of the Public Opinion Survey on the "Public's View on Current
Cross-Strait Relations" (April 29 ~ May 2, 2010)