A majority of respondents to a poll released by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday supported the landmark meeting between President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).
The survey was conducted by the Apollo Survey and Research Co between 5pm and 10pm on Saturday at the behest of the KMT caucus, following the historic Ma-Xi meeting that took place at 3pm on the same day in Singapore.
It was released amid divided opinions on the potential impacts of the first official meeting between leaders from the two sides of the Taiwan Strait since 1949, when the KMT regime retreated to Taiwan after its defeat by the Chinese Communist Party in the Chinese Civil War.
Photo: CNA
The poll showed that about 46.1 percent of respondents supported the Ma-Xi meeting, compared with 21 percent who did not.
Of those polled, 48.1 percent said that they believed the meeting would be conducive to promoting cross-strait peace, while 29.1 percent thought otherwise.
The survey also found that 42.4 percent of respondents did not agree with the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) criticism of the meeting as a ‘back-room deal’ detrimental to Taiwanese democracy, while 27.4 percent sided with the DPP’s comments.
Of the respondents, 38.7 percent said they have confidence in the KMT’s ability to maintain cross-strait peace, while 14.9 percent believed the DPP would be more competent.
The survey, which collected 736 valid samples, had a confidence level of 95 percent and a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points.
KMT Legislator Lee Guei-min (李貴敏) said the poll results indicate that the Ma-Xi meeting is backed by most Taiwanese.
“Taiwan needs more positive energy, not remarks that root against the nation’s interests,” Lee said.
DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) must have been so blinded by the brilliance of the Ma-Xi meeting, that she is unable to appreciate that a political foundation has been set that ensures the future security of Taiwanese, KMT Lawmaker Alex Tsai (蔡正元) said.
Alex Tsai also compared a DPP spokesperson with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, as the spokesperson left a news conference on Saturday evening in Taipei after making a statement on the Ma-Xi meeting without taking questions from reporters.
However, DPP Legislator Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康) questioned the credibility of the poll, as the Apollo Survey and Research Co is affiliated with the Want Want China Times Group, which is widely perceived as pro-China.
“The KMT might as well just entrust the Chinese Communist Party to do its surveys,” Tuan said.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
HORROR STORIES: One victim recounted not realizing they had been stabbed and seeing people bleeding, while another recalled breaking down in tears after fleeing A man on Friday died after he tried to fight the knife-wielding suspect who went on a stabbing spree near two of Taipei’s busiest metro stations, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. The 57-year-old man, identified by his family name, Yu (余), encountered the suspect at Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station and immediately tried to stop him, but was fatally wounded and later died, Chiang said, calling the incident “heartbreaking.” Yu’s family would receive at least NT$5 million (US$158,584) in compensation through the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp’s (TRTC) insurance coverage, he said after convening an emergency security response meeting yesterday morning. National
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency yesterday launched a gift box to market honey “certified by a Formosan black bear” in appreciation of a beekeeper’s amicable interaction with a honey-thieving bear. Beekeeper Chih Ming-chen (池明鎮) in January inspected his bee farm in Hualien County’s Jhuosi Township (卓溪) and found that more than 20 beehives had been destroyed and many hives were eaten, with bear droppings and paw prints near the destroyed hives, the agency said. Chih returned to the farm to move the remaining beehives away that evening when he encountered a Formosan black bear only 20m away, the agency said. The bear
RSS