A poll by United Daily News reveals a rise in pro-independence sentiment, but external support from the U.S. and Japan does not necessarily reflect public opinion as elastic as assumed.

Latest public opinion survey from Taiwan shows 32% support independence, while 53% favor maintaining the status quo indefinitely, drawing significant attention.

On September 21, the United Daily News in Taiwan released its annual survey, revealing that 32% of respondents support independence, 53% wish to maintain the current situation permanently, and support for unification has fallen below 20%.

Compared with last year’s figures, the proportion advocating independence has risen by 7 percentage points, with 18% specifically calling for immediate independence. Analysts suggest this shift may be influenced by recent statements from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. State Department official Raymond Burghardt, which have bolstered confidence among pro-independence advocates.

Notably, although the survey sample size was limited to 1,075 individuals—insufficient to fully represent public sentiment across the island—it was conducted by an organization aligned with pro-KMT (Blue) circles. This indicates a notable segment among non-DPP supporters also currently does not back cross-strait unification, a trend worthy of close observation.

While the overall survey results do not reflect strong support for unification, there is growing willingness among Taiwan residents to expand exchanges and cooperation across the Strait, with over 60% expressing such inclinations. This suggests that the DPP’s strategy of accelerating resistance to unification—which some describe as “soft independence”—has not gained broad public endorsement.

Overall, prevailing sentiment in Taiwan leans toward preserving the status quo, with little appetite for rapid moves toward independence or outright rejection of unification by the DPP. Public views remain significantly influenced by the stance of external actors in the region, particularly the United States and Japan. Achieving peaceful reunification will thus require sustained effort, while also remaining vigilant against potential escalation of military involvement by external powers.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876998208967688/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.