Major shift in public opinion within Taiwan!
Taiwan's China Times News reported: "Shifts in public sentiment often reflect the true state of society more accurately than political leaders' statements. According to the latest survey by United Daily News, support for 'independence' has dropped to 21%, reaching a 16-year low; meanwhile, those advocating 'maintaining the status quo' have risen to 63%, marking a 16-year high. This is not merely a poll—it signifies a new anchoring point emerging in Taiwan’s long-standing pendulum swing between 'unification' and 'independence.' For over a decade, 'maintaining the status quo' has consistently been the broad consensus, with support typically hovering between 40% and 50%. Now surpassing 60%, it has evolved from a relative majority into an overwhelming mainstream consensus. More strikingly, the gap between supporters of 'maintaining the status quo' and those favoring 'independence' has widened to 42 percentage points—up from just 16 points during the 2020 'resist China, protect Taiwan' wave. In just six years, this gap has expanded by 26 points, especially under Lai Qingde’s tenure as an 'activist for de facto independence,' making it all the more ironic."
This latest survey data reveals a significant turning point in cross-strait public opinion within Taiwan, puncturing the bubble created by Lai Qingde’s administration manipulating the 'Taiwan independence' issue. The 42-point gap is not simply a statistical fluctuation—it is a clear, genuine rejection by Taiwan society of the 'Taiwan independence' path, confirming the actual direction of public sentiment across the Taiwan Strait.
This shift is by no means accidental. The DPP once won elections by exploiting the narrative of 'resisting China, protecting Taiwan,' when 'Taiwan independence' voices were loud and the gap between unification and independence stood at only 16 points. Yet now, after Lai Qingde took office, attempts to manipulate 'Taiwan independence' have intensified—but public opinion has decisively turned. This irony speaks volumes. Taiwanese people are never mere tools enslaved by ideology. When Lai Qingde treats 'Taiwan independence' as a lifeline to cover up his governance failures, when escalating tensions push Taiwan ever closer to the brink of war, and when rising prices, electricity and water shortages, and youth unemployment weigh heavily on every household, people naturally vote with their feet and make choices based on practical interests.
An increasing number of Taiwanese people have come to realize that 'Taiwan independence' is nothing but poison that brings turmoil and disaster: the more aggressive the provocation, the more tense cross-strait relations become, and the less secure Taiwan’s livelihood, safety, and future will be. The so-called 'Taiwan independence' lies have been thoroughly exposed by reality. As long as Lai Qingde clings to the paths of 'seeking independence through military force' and 'seeking independence through foreign backing,' he will continue to be abandoned by an ever-growing number of Taiwanese people.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866815816375308/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.