66％ Believe Taiwan should Neither Lean Towards U.S. or China
United Daily News Survey, October 7, 2024
According to the annual survey on cross-strait relations conducted by the United Daily News, 66 percent of the general public believe Taiwan should not lean toward either the United States, or China. If a military conflict occurs between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, 49 percent% of respondents believe that the United States would send troops to defend Taiwan, while 42 percent think it would not.
Regarding Taiwan's position in the triangular relationship among the United States, China, and Taiwan, the survey found that 66 percent of the public believe Taiwan should maintain equal distance from both the United States and China and not lean toward either side. Among the respondents, 21 percent advocate leaning toward the United States, while 8 percent support moving closer to China. These percentages are similar to last year's survey, with little change.
Among Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters, 51 percent believe Taiwan should maintain equal distance from both the United States and China, a higher percentage than the 47% who favor leaning toward the United States. Supporters of the Kuomintang (KMT), the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) and politically neutral individuals without party affiliation mostly advocate for maintaining equal distance from both the United States and China, with over 70 percent in agreement.
The trade and technology war between the United States and China in recent years has led to a global supply chain restructuring, but 56 percent of the public believes that Taiwanese businesses do not need to choose sides between the United States and China, while 33 percent feel it is necessary, and 11 percent have no opinion.
On the issue of cross-strait military tensions, 41 percent of respondents believe that the risk of mainland China using force against Taiwan is higher than last year, only 4 percent think the risk has decreased, and 50 percent believe the risk is about the same as last year, a slight increase of about three percentage points from the previous year.
Given the current risk of an attack from mainland China, 69 percent support increasing defense spending, while 25 percent does not.
If a military conflict were to occur between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, public opinion on whether the United States would defend Taiwan remains divided. However, the percentage of people who believe the United States would send troops to defend Taiwan has risen from 42 percent two years ago to 48 percent last year, and now to 49 percent this year. Meanwhile, the percentage of people who believe the United States would not come to Taiwan's defense has remained between 40 percent and 46 percent over the past three years, with this year's survey showing 42 percent. Among DPP supporters, 79 percent believe that the United States would send troops, while 69 percent of KMT supporters and 51percent of TPP supporters think it would not. Among politically neutral respondents, 40 percent believe the United States would defend Taiwan, while 44 percent think it would not.
As mainland China has not ruled out the use of force to invade Taiwan, Taiwan has reinstated a one-year compulsory military service this year. The survey found that 76 percent of respondents believe this policy is necessary, a 3% increase from last year, while around 20 percent still feel it is unnecessary. Regardless of political affiliation, the majority believe the policy is needed.
Photo from: The Storm Media
Article from: https://udn.com/news/story/8625/8274371