Polls & Research

Taiwanese Upset at China’s Policies

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in Taiwan are disappointed with the behaviour of the Chinese government, according to a poll by Taiwan Thinktank. 85 per cent of respondents think China's efforts to exclude Taiwan from world bodies will affect two-way relations.

In addition, 64 per cent of respondents believe Beijing should be held accountable for worsening bilateral relations with Taiwan, and 60 per cent feel it is better not to harbour any illusions with Beijing as China is unlikely to compromise over Taiwan's sovereignty.

Taiwan was formed in 1949 after the government of Chiang Kai-shek was forced out of China as Mao Zedong's communists were gaining prominence. A series of democratic reforms implemented by Taiwanese president Lee Teng-hui in the early 1990s allowed Taiwan's residents to take part in free and fair elections.

Taiwan has no seat in the United Nations (UN), and has established diplomatic relations with less than 30 countries. To this date, Mainland China considers Taiwan a "renegade province" and reserves the right to bring it under control.

In March 2005, legislators in China's National People's Congress passed the anti-secession law, which aims to prevent Taiwan's independence. The legislation calls for the use of "non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Adopted in 1991 by the executive branch of the Taiwanese government, the National Unification Guidelines were a proposed three-step process aimed at eventually reintegrating the two states of Taiwan and China. In February 2006, Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian announced that the guidelines would "cease to apply." Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) openly advocates for Taiwan to declare its formal independence.

Earlier this month, Costa Rican president Óscar Arias established diplomatic relations with China, declaring, "Taiwan has been very generous and I thank it for the solidarity and cooperation it has shown for nearly 60 years, but I have taken this decision thinking of all the Costa Ricans."

Taiwanese foreign minister James Huang expressed dismay, saying, "Arias chooses to discard the universal values of peace, freedom and human rights commonly treasured by Taiwan and Costa Rica and to turn to ally with the autocratic Communist China."

Polling Data

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("Agree" listed)