May 9, 2015
No. 23
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) today (May 9, 2015) announced the results of its latest survey of "Public Views on the Government's Mainland Policy and Cross-Strait Relations." Regarding the future development direction of cross-strait relations, the overwhelming majority of the public support the policy of maintaining the cross-strait status quo of "no unification, no independence, and no use of force" under the ROC Constitution framework (75.2%) and also support the continued normalization of official cross-strait interactions and institutionalized negotiations to facilitate institutionalized cross-strait ties (71.4%).
The survey found that the majority of the people agree that an important achievement of the government's Mainland policy since 2008 has been to maintain peaceful and stable cross-strait relations (59.4%), support the government's approach of steadily promoting cross-strait negotiations and exchanges on the 1992 Consensus basis of “one China with respective interpretations,”(53.9%), feel that the normalization of official cross-strait interactions is conducive to peaceful and stable cross-strait relations (58.7%), and that institutionalized cross-strait negotiations are conducive to the handling of cross-strait affairs (58%). Moreover, 49.8% of the public are satisfied that cross-strait agreements have facilitated people exchanges, protected personal safety, maintained social order, and created more business opportunities.
The MAC stated that, according to survey results, the public holds a positive attitude towards the pace of cross-strait exchanges and trend of normalized development. Nearly 50% of the respondents feel that the overall pace of exchanges over the past seven years has been just right (45.1%). In addition, 59.7% of the public support allowing Mainland students to study in Taiwan to promote understanding and interaction among cross-strait youth and lay a foundation for peaceful development across the Strait. The majority (50.3%) also support the government's review and amendment of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area to gradually normalize cross-strait exchanges (50.3%).
In addition, the majority of the public support the government's approach of expanding cross-strait exchanges and interaction to spread Taiwan’s core values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law and thereby increase mutual understanding (66.9%). Also, 49.2% of the public agree that the improvement of cross-strait relations in recent years has expanded Taiwan's participation in the international community (49.2%). Moreover, 40.4% of the public agree that the improvement in cross-strait relations protects Taiwan's overall security, while 49% disagree with this position. Regarding the survey results, the MAC stated that national security has long been an issue of concern to the Taiwanese people, and that the government has also continually urged the Mainland to face up to the Taiwanese public’s perceptions and concerns in order to truly promote the long-term development of peaceful and stable cross-strait relations.
The MAC also indicated that the majority of the people affirm the government’s achievements in promoting institutionalized negotiations, starting official normal interaction, and expanding exchanges over the past seven years. In response to the mainstream opinion to maintain the cross-strait "no unification, no independence, and no use of force" status quo and long-term peace and stability, the government will continue to uphold the principle of "putting Taiwan first for the benefit of the people," and, on the 1992 Consensus basis of "one China with respective interpretations," continue to institutionalize cross-strait exchanges and steadily develop peaceful and stable cross-strait relations.
The MAC commissioned Taiwan Real Survey Co., Ltd. to conduct a telephone survey of adults aged 20 and over in Taiwan on May 2 to 3, 2015. A total of 1,070 valid samples were collected, with a sampling error of plus or minus 3% at a 95% level of confidence.