A survey released yesterday suggests that a clear majority of the population think of themselves as Taiwanese rather than Chinese.
The survey, conducted by the quasi-official Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), polled a total of 1,703 people from Nov. 26 to 27 and showed that 57.8 percent of respondents identified themselves as Taiwanese and only 15.8 percent as Chinese. The remaining 16.8 percent consider themselves both Taiwanese and Chinese.
The survey also showed that growing numbers of people have definite attitudes towards conveying their choice on Taiwan's future, whether it is pro-independence or pro-unification with China, the survey said.
In the poll, when asked about the independence, 33.5 percent of the polled said they thought it was better for Taiwan to be independent and 22.7 percent said Taiwan should be unified with China.
The remaining 23.8 percent said maintaining status quo was the best option.
But when asked about their ultimate choice if maintaining the status-quo proved impossible, 41.9 percent of the respondents said Taiwan should be independent while 31.4 percent said Taiwan should be unified with China.
Hao Pei-chih (郝培芝), assistant professor of the Department of Public Administration and Policy at the National Taipei University, said there is a tendency for the people of Taiwan to polarize cross-strait issues but that they also had a clearer attitude towards voicing their preferences.
"I think the people of Taiwan have more definite attitudes towards disclosing their stances on independence or unification," Hao said.
About 55 percent of respondents said they were worried about potential Taiwanese over-investment in China, which could be unfavorable to Taiwan's economic development and 29.6 percent said they were not worried.
Meanwhile, 68.9 percent of the individuals surveyed said they approved of government efforts to allow more Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan.
However, about 30 percent of those polled said they thought regulations controlling Chinese tourists visits to Taiwan are too lax, with another 30 percent saying regulations are too strict.
Some 61 percent of people polled said they thought China's policies on Taiwan harbor more malice than goodwill.
SEF Secretary-General You Ying-lung (游盈隆) said the poll indicated that young Taiwanese were more hostile toward China than the older generation.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS