The Taiwan Cross-Strait Policy Association says that 59.8% of respondents to a new survey want dialogue between China and Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party. The survey results, released Wednesday, show that only 20.5% are opposed to renewed negotiations.
President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party won re-election in the 2020 elections last Saturday. The survey found that 66.1% of respondents were satisfied with her victory speech, while 16.2% were not.
In her victory speech, Tsai called for “peace, equality, democracy, and dialogue” between Taiwan and China. 78% of respondents supported the four parameters that Tsai laid out, while 11% did not.
Meanwhile, 60% said they have confidence in Tsai’s ability to handle cross-strait and diplomatic affairs, while 33% said they do not.
Association Chairman Tan Yao-nan says that China may already be rethinking its Taiwan policy. However, in order for productive changes to happen, China must first face the existence of the Republic of China. The Republic of China is Taiwan’s official name.
Fan Shih-ping, a political science professor at National Taiwan University, says that China may be re-evaluating its use of high-pressure tactics towards Taiwan and may opt to use soft power in the future.
“Cross-strait relations may see new developments after the Lunar New Year. I think that China is realizing that by exerting pressure, poaching allies, and employing intimidation, they’re pushing Taiwan into the arms of the United States. I think it won’t be long before they reach-out to President Tsai,”Fan said.
The Taiwan Cross-Strait Policy Association says that the sample size for the survey was 1,080 people. The survey had a 2.98% margin of error.