The results of a survey released yesterday show that the rate of support for eventual Taiwanese independence stands at 55.4 percent, up six percentage points from a year ago and the highest since similar polls were conducted in 2006.
In a survey conducted by Taiwan Indicator Survey Research (TISR), 55.4 percent of the respondents said they prefered eventual independence, while 29.9 percent said they did not support the idea.
The rate of support increased by 6.1 percentage points from a similar poll undertaken in April last year, which showed a support rate of 49.3 percent. The latest poll shows the highest support for independence of the 11 polls that were conducted between Feb. 2006 and the present.
In the interim, support rates for eventual independence reached a high of 51.4 percent and hit a low of 42.1 percent in Dec. 2009, TISR general manager Tai Li-an (戴立安) said in a press release, adding that the growth in support over the past year was notable.
A breakdown of respondents’ political affiliations found that 76.8 percent of pan-green supporters said independence was preferable, while 29.9 percent disagreed. Among pan-blue supporters, 40.7 percent would like to see Taiwan develop as a new and independent nation and 49.8 percent would not.
Support rates for eventual unification with China remained steady, with 18.6 percent of those polled supporting the concept and 66.6 percent opposing the idea.
Over the past six years, support for eventual unification hit a 28.7 percent high in Feb. 2006, but was never able to regain strength as an idea, according to data provided by the TISR.
Meanwhile, 36.1 percent of respondents said a unified country — named neither the People’s Republic of China nor the Republic of China — would be acceptable, while 45.8 percent did not favor the development.
However, younger generations tended to disapprove of the arrangement, Tai said, with 62.3 percent of those aged 20-29 and 53.6 percent of the 30-39 age group saying the “two sides, one country” option is unacceptable.
More respondents said that China’s rise as a superpower would be negative rather than positive for Taiwan’s economic development: 44.8 percent said it would have an adverse effect on Taiwan, while 37.2 percent said it would be positive.
Additionally, 59.6 percent of those polled — including more than 70 percent of the 20-39 age group — said they would like to see China increase its exchanges with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), while 19.4 percent disapproved.
In a question which asked which political party would help Taiwan more through additional cross-strait exchanges, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) remained the respondents’ top choice at 46.7 percent, with the DPP following at 30.7 percent.
The poll, which was conducted on Monday and Tuesday, collected 1,009 valid samples and had a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.
Kenting National Park service technician Yang Jien-fon (楊政峰) won a silver award in World Grand Prix Photography Awards Spring Season for his photograph of two male rat snakes intertwined in combat. Yang’s colleagues at Kenting National Park said he is a master of nature photography who has been held back by his job in civil service. The awards accept entries in all four seasons across six categories: architectural and urban photography, black-and-white and fine art photography, commercial and fashion photography, documentary and people photography, nature and experimental photography, and mobile photography. Awards are ranked according to scores and divided into platinum, gold and
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday said it opposes the introduction of migrant workers from India until a mechanism is in place to prevent workers from absconding. Minister of Labor Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) on Thursday told the Legislative Yuan that the first group of migrant workers from India could be introduced as early as this year, as part of a government program. The caucus’ opposition to the policy is based on the assessment that “the risk is too high,” KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) said. Taiwan has a serious and long-standing problem of migrant workers absconding from their contracts, indicating that
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
TRADE-OFF: Beijing seeks to trade a bowl of tempura for a Chinese delicacy, an official said, while another said its promises were attempts to interfere in the polls The government must carefully consider the national security implications of building a bridge connecting Kinmen County and Xiamen, China, the Public Construction Commission (PCC) said yesterday. PCC Commissioner Derek Chen (陳金德), who is also a minister without portfolio, made the remarks in a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, after Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Hsu Fu-kuei (徐富癸) asked about China’s proposal of new infrastructure projects to further connect Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties with Xiamen. China unveiled the bridge plan, along with nine other policies for Taiwan, on Sunday, the last day of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s (鄭麗文) visit
RSS