A new poll has shown that the situation in Hong Kong had the biggest impact on voters’ choices in last week’s election.
The poll was commissioned by the Taipei Trust in Democracy Association and looked at how recent events influenced who voters’ supported.
A controversial Hong Kong bill that would have allowed extraditions to China was closely watched in Taiwan. The bill sparked pro-democracy protests that have continued to rock the territory even after its withdrawal. According to the poll, 27% of voters made their choice with this bill and the controversy surrounding it in mind.
The KMT’s nomination of Wu Sz-huai as a candidate for a legislative seat was also an important factor in voter’s decisions. Wu controversially attended a 2016 event in Beijing where he stood for the Chinese national anthem. 22% of respondents said Wu’s nomination affected their vote.
A further 15% said a DPP bill designed to stop Chinese interference in Taiwan’s affairs proved decisive. Meanwhile, 12% said their vote had been swayed by self-declared Chinese spy Wang Liqiang, who claimed he’d been involved in efforts to meddle in the election.
However, 59% of respondents said that none of the issues the poll address had an impact on their support for certain candidates.
The poll also looked at voters’ views about the integrity of the election and their satisfaction with how it took place.
Over 50% of respondents said they believe China interfered in the election, while 44% said they think the US interfered. 24% said they believe neither power worked to influence the outcome.
Meanwhile, nearly 70% of respondents said they are satisfied with the results of the election. Over 70% said they believe the election was fair. 49% said they believe this election will serve to unite Taiwanese people, and 70% said the election has left them confident in the development of Taiwan’s democratic system.
The poll was conducted between January 13-14. There were 1,070 valid responses. The poll has a margin of error of 3%.