MAC Press Release No. 012
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) announced the results of this year's first routine public opinion survey today (March 23, 2023). About 80% of the public approve of the government's gradual resumption of healthy and orderly exchanges in consideration of the increasing stability of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the state of cross-Strait interaction, and calls from the public to conduct trade and other activities (83.7%). Similar percentages of the public support the recent reopening of some flight points for cross-Strait passenger service (79.6%) and recent resumption of passenger transits via the Mini-three-links (80.1%); and approve of the government's approach of strengthening safety management of mainland Chinese residents seeking to enter Taiwan as the two sides resume exchanges (78.6%). In addition, the majority of respondents oppose the poaching of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through economic inducement (84.3%), and believe that the relentless operation of CCP military aircraft in areas surrounding Taiwan has undermined cross-Strait and regional peace and stability (72.1%). The survey indicates that, public opinion in Taiwan affirms the government's policy measures regarding cross-Strait exchanges and resolutely opposes the CCP's political, military, and diplomatic coercion, and pressure campaign against Taiwan.
The MAC emphasized that more than 80% of the public have long disapproved of the CCP's "one country, two systems" (83.6%). In similar percentages, the public also opposes the recent statement made by the CCP Foreign Minister at the "Two Sessions" that "Taiwan is part of the sacred territory of the People's Republic of China" (81.7%), disapproves of the CCP's so-called "Overall Strategy on Taiwan," and opposes the CCP's political views including the "one China" principle, "1992 Consensus," etc. (75.5%). This shows that public opinion in Taiwan firmly rejects any political views of the CCP that effectively downgrade Taiwan. Moreover, facing the ongoing coercion and united front tactics against Taiwan from the other side across the Taiwan Strait, over 80% of the public agree that the two sides should interact with each other in the spirit of rationality, equality, and mutual respect; furthermore, the two sides should strive to resolve our differences through dialogues without any political preconditions (85.6%). The respondents also approve of the position that cross-Strait exchanges and interaction should be conducted based on the spirit of equality, dignity, and relevant laws and regulations in order to mitigate the effect of the CCP’s united front work and infiltration (85.5%). Similar percentages of the public agree that the objective truth of cross-Strait status quo is that "the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other" (78.6%), agree that Taiwan's future and the development of cross-Strait relations must be decided by the 23 million people of Taiwan (85.1%), and support the government's consistent approach of enhancing our self-defense capabilities in order to safeguard national sovereignty and Taiwan's democracy (88.4%). The survey also showed that nearly 90% of public opinion advocate for "maintaining the status quo defined in a broader sense" (88.9%), maintaining a long-term trend.
The MAC reiterated that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait require the joint efforts from both sides. Our government will continue to firmly uphold the "Four Commitments," strengthen our "Four Resiliences," steadily promote the positive development of cross-Strait relations, and protect Taiwan's overall interests. The MAC also called on the other side to respect the public opinion in Taiwan by ceasing its coercive actions, united front work, and interference tactics aimed at dividing our society; facing up to the objective truth that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other; and handling cross-Strait affairs pragmatically as the two sides resume gradual and orderly exchanges in the post-pandemic era. Only these changes are the truly responsible actions to maintain cross-Strait peace and enhance the well-being of people on both sides.
The MAC commissioned the Election Study Center of National Chengchi University to conduct a telephone survey of adults aged 20 and over in Taiwan from March 16 to 20, 2023. A total of 1,072 valid samples were obtained, with a sampling error of plus or minus 2.99% at a 95% level of confidence.