Seventy-three percent of Americans would support recognizing Taiwan as an independent country in the event of a Chinese invasion, this year’s Reagan National Defense Survey found.
For their seventh annual survey, released on Thursday, the Ronald Reagan Institute conducted interviews last month with 2,510 people.
The report found that 64 percent of respondents believed that the US should make public declarations of support for Taiwanese autonomy, and 61 percent supported an increased US military presence near Taiwan to deter a possible invasion.
Photo: I-Hwa Cheng/Bloomberg
Additionally, 78 percent of respondents would support the establishment of a defense alliance to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, which would include Taiwan, the US and military allies such as Japan, South Korea and Australia, it said.
In the event of an invasion, support for committing US forces to Taiwan’s defense has also increased from 39 percent in 2019 to 48 percent this year.
If a conflict were to emerge, nearly 60 percent of respondents would support sending additional military equipment, including warships, and other US military assets to Taiwan, while 51 percent would support establishing a no-fly zone with the possibility of shooting down Chinese warplanes, it said.
Regarding US adversaries, 49 percent viewed China as the US’ greatest threat, while 52 percent believed the US would come out on top in a conflict with China’s People’s Liberation Army, it said.
Asked what concerns them the most about China, only 11 percent answered “China invading Taiwan,” although 28 percent responded “China’s military buildup in the South China Sea.”
Sixty-seven percent of respondents in this year’s survey viewed Taiwan as an ally of the US, up from 64 percent last year, compared with just 18 percent for China, it said.
Sixty-five percent of respondents supported placing economic sanctions on China as a deterrent, rising to 66 percent in the event of an invasion.
In light of China’s escalating military intimidation of Taiwan, the report showed bipartisan support for the implementation of diplomatic, economic and military measures to strengthen Taiwan, with 55 percent backing increased arms sales to Taiwan, it said.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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