Tracking Number: 427441
Title: "US Public's Views on China and Taiwan."
Recent polls show that most Americans view Taiwan as an "independent country" rather than as part of China and favor reunification with China "only if the Taiwanese want to be reunified." (960315)
Author: RICHMAN, AL (USIA STAFF WRITER)
Date: 19960315
Text:
*AMP505
03/15/96
U.S. PUBLIC'S VIEWS ON CHINA AND TAIWAN American Polls
(680)
By Al Richman
A Harris poll taken February 22-29 shows most Americans perceive Taiwan as an "independent country" rather than as part of China and favor reunification with China "only if the Taiwanese want to be reunified." However, about two-thirds of Americans oppose U.S. military intervention in the Taiwan Straits, including for the purpose of defending Taiwan against a mainland Chinese invasion.
Previous polls have shown that Americans view China as less friendly than Taiwan toward the U.S., but more important to U.S. interests.
AMERICANS VIEW TAIWAN AS SEPARATE FROM CHINA The Harris Poll asked three questions which show most Americans see Taiwan as an independent country deserving membership in the United Nations (even if China opposes this), and approve reunification with China only if the Taiwan people themselves want to be reunified:
(1) "Do you think of Taiwan as a completely separate and independent country or as part of China?"
Separate country - 62%, Part of China - 29%, Not sure - 9% (2) "Supporting Taiwan's bid to become a member of the United Nations might well anger China. Should the United States support Taiwan's U.N. bid, or not?"
Support - 56%, Not support - 34%, Not sure - 10% (3) "From what you know or have heard or read, do you feel Taiwan should eventually be reunified with Mainland China under any circumstances, or do you feel China and Taiwan should be reunified only if the Taiwanese want to be reunified, or should it never be reunified?"
Reunified only if people of Taiwan want to be - 69%
Never reunified - 18
Ultimately reunified - 2
Not sure - 11
-- U.S. POPULATION GROUPS: A majority in most groups -- including Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives -- view Taiwan as an independent country deserving U.N. membership. These opinions are more widespread among American college graduates (about 75%) than among those without college education (about 55%).
MAJORITY OPPOSES MILITARY ACTION TO DEFEND TAIWAN Harris found about two-thirds of Americans opposed (1) sending a U.S. aircraft carrier to the Taiwan Straits to counter China's efforts at military intimidation (68% oppose) or (2) using U.S. military forces to defend Taiwan if mainland China actually tried to invade it (65% oppose). Harris asked these two questions:
(1) "China is threatening to hold military exercises off the coast of Taiwan in an attempt to influence Taiwan's first democratic presidential election in March. Should the United States send an aircraft carrier to the Taiwan Straits to try to decrease China's influence on Taiwan's election, or not?" (Note: This poll was conducted before the U.S. announced it was sending U.S. naval ships to the Taiwan area.)
No - 68%, Yes - 26%, Not sure - 6% (2) "If Mainland China tried to invade Taiwan militarily, should America fight to defend Taiwan against China, or not?"
No - 65%, Yes - 29%, Not sure - 6% Clear majorities in every population group oppose U.S. military actions to defend Taiwan. There is hardly any difference on this issue between Democrats and Republicans or between liberals and conservatives.
BASIC INDICATORS FOR CHINA AND TAIWAN: PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR IMPORTANCE AND POSTURE TOWARD U.S.
The most recent available measures show China is viewed more widely than Taiwan as a country of "vital interest" to the United States (68% vs. 49%). However, China is viewed more as an adversary than as a friend of the U.S., while the reverse has been the case for Taiwan:
-- PERCEIVED IMPORTANCE TO U.S. (Chicago Council, 10/94): Four tiers of countries in terms of the proportion of Americans who believe the U.S. has a "vital interest" in them "for political, economic or security reasons."
I.
Japan (85%), Saudi Arabia (83%), Russia (79%).
II. Great Britain (69%), CHINA (68%), South Korea (65%), Israel (64%).
III. TAIWAN (49%), Egypt (45%), France (39%).
IV. Poland (31%), India (31%).
-- PERCEIVED STANCE TOWARD U.S. (Roper Polls)
CHINA (Roper 7/93):
14% positive (close ally or friendly), 33% neutral, 36% negative (unfriendly or enemy)
TAIWAN (Roper 12/85):
49% positive, 24% neutral, 7%
NNNN
File Identification: 03/15/96, AMP505
Product Name: Wireless File
Product Code: WF
Keywords: TAIWAN; CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS; REUNIFICATION (TERRITORY); PUBLIC
OPINION; MILITARY INTERVENTION; TAIWAN-US RELATIONS; CHINA-US RELATIONS
Thematic Codes: 1EA
Target Areas: AF; AR; EA; EU; NE
PDQ Text Link: 427441
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
