(Taipei) A majority of Taiwanese say they are ready to fight in the event of an invasion of the island by the Chinese army, while deeming such a scenario improbable in the short term, according to a poll published by a local institute on Wednesday, at the eve of the national holiday.
Posted at 6:45 a.m.
Nearly 68% of the 1,214 people surveyed said they were “completely willing or somewhat willing” to fight in defense of the island in the event of an invasion, according to this survey carried out for the Defense and Security Research Institute (INDSR).
Some 64% of respondents believe that Beijing’s desire to take control of the island represents “a serious threat”, with 61% saying, however, that they do not believe there will be an attack in the next five years.
The poll, carried out in September, is published by the INDSR – an organization presenting itself as “independent” and “non-partisan” – on the eve of Taiwan’s National Day, during which President Lai Ching-te is due to ‘express Thursday.
China considers Mr. Lai a “dangerous separatist” because of his attachment to the sovereignty of Taiwan, of which Beijing, which has intensified its military and political pressure on Taipei in recent years, does not rule out taking control through strength.
According to Chinese state media, Beijing on Tuesday accused Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te of fueling “hostilities”, after the latter declared during a speech on Saturday that it was “impossible” for China to be the “motherland” of Taiwan.
Mr. Lai has “once again recycled the sophistry of ‘Taiwan independence’,” blasted Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, an organ of the Chinese government.
Last year, William Burns, the director of the CIA, the main American intelligence agency, estimated that Chinese President Xi Jinping was considering an invasion of Taiwan by 2027.
This date would coincide with the start of a possible fourth term for Mr. Xi at the head of the country, notes Lee Wen-chung. Director of the INDSR, this official does not exclude the possibility of seeing Beijing take “fairly harsh measures” in this context.
Only some 40% of respondents believe that the United States, Taiwan’s first ally, would deploy its navy to force a possible blockade of the island.
Washington has historically maintained a policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding possible American military intervention if Taiwan were attacked by China.
