The majority of the nation’s students do not know how many diplomatic allies Taiwan has, according to a poll released by the King Car Education Foundation.
Only 35 percent of respondents identified the correct answer: “Between 21 and 30,” according to the poll, which surveyed junior and senior high-school students and university students.
A total of 65 percent of respondents either got the answer wrong or said they did not know, the results show.
The top three countries that students believe have the biggest influence on Taiwan’s politics and security are the US with 82 percent, China with 65 percent and Japan with 54 percent.
Japan was voted the friendliest country toward Taiwan for the fourth consecutive year, followed by the US, and Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in Africa and Central and South America.
Only 11 percent of respondents said that China is the friendliest country toward Taiwan, but 77 percent said they believe China has the biggest influence over Taiwan’s economic development, followed by the US, Japan and South Korea.
Meanwhile, the international issues that Taiwanese students care most about are climate change (63.6 percent), ecological conservation (44.9 percent), human rights (36.9 percent), the European and Southeast Asian refugee crises (30.5 percent) and cultural preservation (24.8 percent).
The respondents were asked which country — Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia or Indonesia — did not participate in a May meeting held to address the Rohingya refugee crisis.
Only 15 percent of respondents identified the correct answer of Singapore, according to the poll.
Soochow University political science professor Liu Bih-rong (劉必榮) said that a rising Southeast Asia could present opportunities for Taiwan, but the survey shows that Taiwanese students have a poor understanding of the region.
The lack of motivation to learn more about the region, coupled with fragmented reports in the media are the main reasons, he said.
The poll collected a total of 2,352 valid samples. It had a confidence level of 97 percent and a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
Taipei is to implement widespread road closures around Taipei 101 on Friday to make way for large crowds during the Double Ten National Day celebration, the Taipei Department of Transportation said. A four-minute fireworks display is to be launched from the skyscraper, along with a performance by 500 drones flying in formation above the nearby Nanshan A21 site, starting at 10pm. Vehicle restrictions would occur in phases, they said. From 5pm to 9pm, inner lanes of Songshou Road between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 are to be closed, with only the outer lanes remaining open. Between 9pm and 9:40pm, the section is
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday hosted a reception to celebrate Double Ten National Day. Conservative Canadian lawmaker Marc Dalton called Taiwan a “beacon of courage and resilience in the face of rising authoritarianism,” according to a post on the Taiwan in Vancouver Facebook page. Also in attendance were fellow conservative caucus members Tako Van Popta and Chak Au, who said that Taiwan plays an “indispensable role” in ensuring global peace, prosperity and stability due to its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, it said. Canadian lawmaker Michael Cooper also recorded a message wishing Taiwan a
RSS