MAC Press Release No. 017
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) announced the results of a poll today (April 11, 2024). The results showed that mainstream public opinion in Taiwan supports the government's call for two-way cross-Strait travel by tour groups to be allowed based on the "principle of reciprocity." The public back the government’s law enforcement against trespassing mainland Chinese ships in the waters around Taiwan’s Kinmen area. They also support the government’s enhancement of self-defense capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and Taiwan’s democracy. The public firmly oppose the "one country, two systems" proposed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). They also oppose the CCP’s unilaterally set political preconditions for cross-Strait dialogue, military threats against Taiwan, and suppression of Taiwan’s international space. The survey results reflect that the domestic public recognize the government's pragmatic handling of cross-Strait affairs and view the CCP's hybrid pressure on Taiwan very unfavorably.
The MAC pointed out that this survey asked the public for their views on recent issues of concern from all sectors of Taiwan’s society. More than 80% of the public support the government's call for two-way cross-Strait travel by tour groups to be allowed based on the "principle of reciprocity." That is, if Taiwan allowed Taiwanese tour groups to visit mainland China, the CCP should reciprocate by allowing its tour groups to visit Taiwan (80.4%). More than 90% of the people support the Coast Guard Administration’s law enforcement against or expulsion of trespassing mainland Chinese ships in the waters around Taiwan’s Kinmen area to safeguard national security and fishermen’s rights (90.9%). In addition, nearly 70% of the public believe that the CCP’s revision of the “Counterespionage Law” and its expanded interpretation of espionage will affect their willingness to visit mainland China (69.9%).
The MAC indicated that this survey also found that about 90% of the people disapprove of the CCP’s military aircraft and warships continuing to operate around Taiwan, and even deliberately crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait (92.6%). A similar percentage disapprove of the CCP’s suppression of Taiwan’s international space (90.1%) and its "one country, two systems" formula (89.6%). About 80% of the respondents disagree with the CCP’s statement that “the results of Taiwan’s presidential election cannot change the basic fact that Taiwan is part of China” (84.7%). The public also disagree with the CCP’s insistence that cross-Strait dialogue can only resume under the “1992 Consensus embodying the one China principle” (78.8%). Faced with the CCP's imposition of a political framework and coercive actions, more than 90% of the people support the government’s continued enhancement of self-defense capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and Taiwan's democracy, and maintain the peaceful cross-Strait status quo (93.3%).
The MAC further stated that regarding the long observed issues, more than 90% of the public support that the future of Taiwan must be decided by its 23 million people (91.1%). The majority of the public advocate for "maintaining the status quo defined in a broader sense" (88.8%). Moreover, a high percentage of the public believe that the CCP is unfriendly toward the government and people of Taiwan (72.4% and 56.6%, respectively), maintaining a stable long-term trend. The MAC emphasized that maintaining cross-Strait peace is the shared responsibility of both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The government will continue to stand firmly by the "Four Commitments" and properly respond to the CCP's carrot and stick tactics against Taiwan to safeguard our overall interests and the rights and welfare of the people. We call on the CCP to face up to the existence of the Republic of China, respect Taiwan’s public opinion, engage in communication and dialogue with Taiwan without preconditions, handle cross-Strait differences pragmatically, and seek a way to peaceful co-existence.
The MAC commissioned Taiwan Real Survey to conduct a telephone survey of adults aged 20 and over in Taiwan from April 3 to 8, 2024. A total of 1,080 valid samples were obtained, with a sampling error of plus or minus 2.98% at a 95% level of confidence.