Taiwan Public Opinion Trends, 1992-2008: Exploring Attitudes on Cross-Strait Issues

Abstract

In examining self-identification and related opinion trends in Taiwan during the period 1992–2008, this article assesses preferences expressed in surveys since Taiwan’s democratization on whether to pursue independence from the mainland or follow a path toward unification. Currently, Taiwanese are roughly divided on identification as Taiwanese or both Taiwanese and Chinese, though polls conducted in the early 1990s found greater Chinese than Taiwanese identification. The long-term policy trend has been for a preference for preserving the status quo between independence and unification, though the minority preferring independence now exceeds that for unification. In exploring indicators of partisanship and attitudes about referenda on cross-Strait issues, there is now a slight majority identifying with one of the two major parties; less than half approves of using referenda to assess policy opinions. Studying Taiwan’s collective attitudes is particularly important today because the peaceful pursuit of cross-Strait negotiations.