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.
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