MAC announces “Combined Analysis Report on Public Opinion Surveys on Cross-Strait Relations in 2006”
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) announced a “Combined Analysis Report on Public Opinion Surveys on Cross-Strait Relations in 2006” this morning (February 15, 2007). The report compiles the results of public opinion surveys on cross-strait relations conducted by relevant agencies and public opinion survey centers in 2006. Based on its analysis, the MAC summarized domestic public opinion collected in last year’s surveys into four key points: “Public opinion supports the cautious promotion of cross-strait economic and trade exchanges”; “public opinion highlights the increasing Taiwan-centric consciousness”; “public opinion hopes that the governments of China and Taiwan can engage in talks and negotiations”; and “the public strongly approves the government’s positive efforts to expand the space for Taiwan’s international existence.”
In order to closely grasp the most recent development and changing trends of public opinion, the MAC has for a long time commissioned academic units to conduct public opinion surveys. It will also continue to compile the findings of public opinion surveys conducted by other sectors of society. After compiling the findings of 49 public opinion surveys on cross-strait issues conducted by various sectors of society (including four surveys commissioned by the MAC) in 2006, the MAC completed the “Combined Analysis Report on Public Opinion on Mainland Policy and Cross-Strait Relations in 2006” and presented this report at its Council Meeting.
The MAC expressed that the results of the related surveys indicate that in the area of cross-strait economic and trade exchanges, the public believes that Taiwan’s over-concentration of investments in China is having a negative impact on Taiwan. The majority of the public also supports the view that the government should slightly tighten restrictions on China-bound investments by Taiwanese businesspeople. Moreover, approval of the government’s economic and trade policy based on the principle of “proactive management and effective liberalization” is higher than disapproval of this policy. This indicates that the public supports the government in strengthening management of cross-strait economic and trade exchanges and promoting such exchanges under the principles of “Taiwan first” and “overall national interests.”
According to the MAC’s report, on the issue of unification vs. independence, the basic trend of public opinion continues to be that “those approving unification or independence are in the minority, while those advocating maintaining the status quo are in the majority.” This shows that mainstream public opinion in Taiwan believes there should be no change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, and that the overwhelming majority of the public agrees that “Taiwan is an independent sovereign country.” The majority of the public also opposes setting the so-called “ultimate unification” as the only objective in the “National Unification Guidelines” and under “one China” formula. The MAC indicated that the majority consensus in Taiwan supports the position that the future of Taiwan should be decided by the 23 million Taiwanese people.
On the issue of expanding Taiwan’s diplomatic and international space, the vast majority of the public believes that the international community should face the fact that Taiwan is an independent sovereign country. The public also believes that Taiwan should continue to develop diplomatic relations even if this will create tensions in cross-strait relations. Furthermore, the majority of the public expresses support for Taiwan’s bid to join the United Nations under the name of “Taiwan.”
With regard to cross-strait talks, the vast majority of the public believes that the Chinese authorities have intentionally attempted to create divisions in Taiwan by actively engaging in contacts with Taiwan’s civilian sector, but not holding negotiations with the Taiwanese government, which will not only affect the overall rights and interests of Taiwan but will also undermine the rights and interests of the Taiwanese people. Public opinion survey results show that the Chinese authorities’ attempts to “de-governmentalize” Taiwan will not win the approval of the Taiwanese people. The public also believes that issues involving government authority should be handled by the government or agencies authorized by the government; and that the opposition political parties cannot replace the government in resolving issues arising from cross-strait exchanges. Conducting negotiations and talks through government-authorized formal channels is the only way to fully protect the nation’s rights and interests.