Taiwan President Lai Ching-te Gains Strong Support Against China’s Claims
In a recent survey conducted by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) of Taiwan, nearly 70% of Taiwanese people expressed support for President Lai Ching-te’s rejection of China’s claims over Taiwan. This follows Lai’s National Day address on October 10, where he stated that the Republic of China (Taiwan’s official name) and the People’s Republic of China (China’s official name) are not subordinate to each other.
Liang Wen-chieh, the deputy head and spokesperson of the MAC, highlighted that almost 70% of respondents also agreed with Lai’s assertion that China has no right to represent Taiwan. Additionally, 87.3% of participants disapproved of the recent military drills conducted by the Chinese Communist Party around Taiwan.
Following Lai’s speech, China’s Foreign Ministry criticized him for promoting Taiwan independence. On October 14, China conducted the “Joint Sword-2024B” military exercises near Taiwan, involving various branches of the Chinese military.
The survey, conducted by Ipsos from October 17 to 20, involved telephone interviews with 1,073 adults in Taiwan, achieving a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of plus or minus 2.99 percentage points. The results indicate strong public support for Lai’s stance against China’s political and military pressures.
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island located in East Asia, near China. It has its own government and operates like an independent country, but China claims it as part of its territory.
President Lai Ching-te -: Lai Ching-te is the President of Taiwan. He is a leader who represents the people of Taiwan and makes important decisions for the country.
China’s Claims -: China claims that Taiwan is a part of its country, but many people in Taiwan and other countries disagree with this claim.
Mainland Affairs Council -: The Mainland Affairs Council is a government organization in Taiwan that deals with issues related to China and Taiwan’s relationship with it.
National Day address -: A National Day address is a speech given by a country’s leader on a special day that celebrates the nation’s history and achievements. In this case, President Lai Ching-te spoke about Taiwan’s stance against China’s claims.
Military drills -: Military drills are exercises conducted by a country’s armed forces to practice and prepare for potential conflicts. China’s recent drills near Taiwan are seen as a show of strength and pressure.
Ipsos -: Ipsos is a company that conducts surveys and research to gather information about people’s opinions and behaviors. They conducted the survey mentioned in the summary.
