Nearly 70 percent of respondents said that China poses a great threat to the nation, while 76.7 percent said the US is more globally influential than China, a poll by the Association of Chinese Elite Leadership showed yesterday.
The poll found that 69 percent of respondents think China greatly threatens Taiwan, and when asked whether cross-strait interaction should be predicated on accepting China’s “one country, two systems” framework, the so-called “1992 consensus” or other similar concepts, respondents disagreed at 74.4 percent, 48.7 percent and 85.9 percent respectively.
The “1992 consensus” — a term that former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) in 2006 admitted making up in 2000 — refers to a tacit understanding between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge that there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
Photo: Tian Yu-hua, Taipei Times
When asked to rank opinions toward the US and China on a scale of one to 10 — with one being the lowest and 10 being the highest — the average rating toward the US stood at 5.7 percent, whereas China scored 3.7.
When asked which among the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party could best protect Taiwanese sovereignty, 41.8 percent of respondents chose the DPP, 23 percent chose the KMT and 10.6 percent chose the Taiwan People’s Party, the poll showed.
Association secretary-general Wang Chih-sheng (王智盛) said the poll suggested that people aged under 40 prioritize Taiwan-US relations over cross-strait relations, while those older than 50 place more emphasis on cross-strait relations.
The CCP should know that Taiwanese consider sovereignty more important than the political ideologies touted by the KMT and the DPP, National Taiwan Normal University professor Fan Shih-ping (范世平) said.
The CCP’s “one country, two systems” formula has no adherents in Taiwan, Fan said, adding that most Taiwanese believe that maintaining distant, but friendly relations with China is sufficient.
The poll was conducted by telephone on Wednesday and Thursday, targeting people aged 20 or older. It received 1,035 valid responses and claimed a margin of error of 3.05 percentage points.
This story has been amended since it was first published.
PROCEDURE: Although there is already a cross-strait agreement in place for the extradition of criminals, ample notice is meant to be given to the other side first Ten Taiwanese who were involved in fraud-related crimes in China were extradited back to Taiwan via Kinmen County on Wednesday, four of whom are convicted fraudsters in Taiwan. The 10 people arrived via a ferry operating between Xiamen and Kinmen, also known as the “small three links.” The Kinmen County Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said that four of the 10 extradited people were convicted in Taiwan for committing fraud and contravening the Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法), and were on the wanted list. They were immediately arrested upon arrival and sent to Kinmen Prison to serve their sentences following brief questioning, the office said.
Taipei and Kaohsiung have extended an open invitation to Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki after Chinese authorities abruptly canceled her scheduled concert in Shanghai. Hamasaki, 47, had been slated to perform on Saturday before organizers pulled the show at the last minute, citing “force majeure,” a move widely viewed as retaliation for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a military response from Tokyo. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) yesterday said the city “very much welcomes” Hamasaki’s return and would continue to “surprise” her. Hamasaki, who has a large global fan base, including
‘REGRETTABLE’: Travelers reported that Seoul’s online arrival card system lists Taiwan as ‘China (Taiwan),’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday urged South Korea to correct the way Taiwan is listed in its newly launched e-Arrival card system, saying the current designation downgrades the nation’s status. South Korea rolled out the online system on Feb. 24 to gradually replace paper arrival cards, which it plans to phase out by next year. Travelers must complete the electronic form up to 72 hours before entering the country. The ministry said it has received multiple complaints from Taiwanese travelers saying that the system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in dropdown menus for both “place of departure” and “next
VIGILANT: Enterovirus activity remains in the epidemic phase, with the CDC urging caregivers of infected children to be on the lookout for signs of severe illness Influenza activity is rising in neighboring countries, and, with temperatures forecast to drop this week, flu cases are expected to increase in the next two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. Hospitals reported 87,162 visits for flu-like illnesses between Nov. 23 and Saturday, which remained about the same level as the previous week, but nine deaths and 24 cases with serious flu complications were also confirmed last week, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said. Flu activity reached a peak in late September before declining for eight consecutive weeks, CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesman Lin Min-cheng (林明誠)
RSS