Survey: Most Taiwan people favor exchanges with mainland   (Xinhua)  Updated: 2006-08-17 21:32  
BEIJING -- A survey of more than 1,000 people in Taiwan has showed that more 
than half favor developing exchanges with the Chinese mainland. 
 In the survey, conducted on August 10 and 11 at the request of Taiwan 
Thinktank, people were asked by telephone whether it was more important to 
"develop exchanges with the mainland" or to develop relations with other 
countries. 
 Of the 1,072 respondents, 50.7 percent put "developing exchanges with the 
mainland" first, 38.7 percent chose "developing relations with other countries" 
and the rest chose not to respond, according to survey results released by 
Taiwan Thinktank. 
 "It shows Taiwan people have high hopes for cross-Strait relations," said 
Yung-Ming Hsu, assistant research fellow of Taiwan's "Academia Sinica". 
 He said the survey shows the majority of Taiwan people believe 
"(international) diplomacy is useless" and "cross-Straits relations are 
omnipotent". The mainland's policies on Taiwan are effective and have produced 
results, he added. 
 He said the mainland has more leverage in influencing changes in cross-Strait 
relations. 
 Asked what was the most appropriate means of achieving "space in the 
international community", 38.7 percent chose the pursuit of dialogue with the 
Chinese mainland, 34.9 percent chose their "own efforts" and 17.8 percent chose 
to "seek the help of major powers". 
 Asked to select the political party they most identified with in terms of 
ideology and policies, 45 percent chose the Kuomintang, 18.5 percent chose the 
Democratic Progressive Party, 5.5 percent chose the Taiwan Solidarity Union and 
2.3 percent chose the People First Party.
 
  
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