China links viewed with caution

Almost 70 percent of interviewees in a government-commissioned survey fear that direct-transportation links with China will accelerate an outflow of capital from Taiwan.

But, in keeping with previous surveys, more than 70 percent support the introduction of such links as long as Taiwan's security, dignity and equality are not jeopardized.

Jan Jyh-horng (詹志宏), director of the Mainland Affairs Council's (MAC) Research and Planning Department, said the results reflected the public's desire for direct transport links. However, "the proportion of those who are worried shows that the public wishes the government to take the necessary measures to minimize any negative impact," he added.

"The public is very rational about this. We will take their worries into account," Jan said at a news conference where the survey results were released.

The survey, the first to focus exclusively on direct transportation links with China, was commissioned by the council and conducted by E-Society, a market research and opinion survey company, between Oct 21 and Oct 22. The company polled 1096 adults in a random telephone survey.

Opinions surveys for the past several years have shown approximately 70 percent support for direct links as long as Taiwan's security and dignity are preserved.

The E-Society poll, however, is the first to ask detailed questions about the implications of such links, giving an indication of the public's reservations.

While 21.4 percent of those interviewed "were not worried" that direct transport links with China would affect Taiwan's capital outflow, 69.4 percent worried that the pace of that outflow would be accelerated.

Similarly, 65.9 percent were worried that unemployment would increase as a result of the direct transportion links, while 25.7 percent did not.

More than 60 percent are worried that direct transportation would have a negative effect on Taiwan's economic development and the migration of skilled personnel in the hi-tech sector would accelerate.

MAC Vice Chairman Jonathon Liu (劉德勳) said that the council commissioned the poll as it prepares its proposal -- to be completed by the end of November -- for direct transportation links with China. "The results show that the public accepts the approach taken by the council," he said.

Liu highlighted further results which showed that 57.2 percent of interviewees thought direct transportation should be introduced "slowly" and "gradually," while 21.8 percent said it should be introduced as soon as possible.

On the negotiation of direct transportation links, the results showed that 63.1 percent of interviewees opposed such links being characterized as a "domestic" Chinese matter while 13.3 percent were "content" for the ties to be labeled as such.

As to whether civil organizations should represent the government in such negotiations, 53.1 percent said they were "not content" with the idea.

But 60.3 percent said they would be content for civil organizations to assist the government with negotiations, as long as the government retained full decision making powers.