A high percentage of respondents in a survey released yesterday appeared to be satisfied with the country’s participation at this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer, but a majority was unsatisfied with having to use the title “Chinese Taipei.”
A majority of respondents also considered China the main obstacle to Taiwan pursuing more participation in international organizations.
The poll, conducted by the ERA Poll Center for National Chengchi University’s (NCCU) Center for Foreign Policy Studies, surveyed 1,072 Taiwanese above the age of 20 between May 6 and May 9.
About 74.5 percent of respondents said they were aware Taiwan had been granted observer status at the WHA, with 74 percent saying the breakthrough would help promote the country’s international status.
A total of 37.4 percent said they were satisfied with the country’s participation at the WHA under the name “Chinese Taipei,” while 37.8 percent said the title was “unsatisfying, but acceptable.”
Fifteen percent were not satisfied with the development.
Less than 10 percent said that “Chinese Taipei” was an appropriate designation for the country in international organizations; 36.9 percent said they preferred the title “Taiwan”; 22.3 percent supported the title “ROC [Republic of China]”; and 25.9 percent said they preferred “any name that could help Taiwan gain entry.”
As many as 62 percent said they found cross-strait relations had become “more peaceful” since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) came into office on May 20 last year.
However, 60.9 percent regarded China as “the biggest obstacle to Taiwan developing foreign relations.”
About 32 percent described the Chinese government’s attitude toward Taiwan as “unfriendly,” while 41.8 percent said otherwise.
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