Multinational Survey on Image of Taiwan

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	Multinational Survey on Image of Taiwan
	Published: November 24, 2005 Source: Government Information Office, Republic of China (Taiwan) A five-country survey conducted by the Gallup Organization shows that, in general, Taiwan enjoys a good impression and its people are viewed favorably among adults in the nations studied. The Press Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York commissioned the Gallup Organization to conduct a study of Taiwan's image during the months of May and June 2005 in five countries. In total, more than 8,500 interviews were conducted. This was the first large-scale survey conducted to better understand the attitudes and perceptions of the people of these countries regarding Taiwan. In each of the five countries, the Gallup Organization randomly interviewed 1,500 adults in the general public and 200 opinion leaders. The countries in the study included: the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The survey's findings on Taiwan's national image, its international status and participation in international organizations, cross-strait relations, and other topics follow. Impressions of Taiwan This multinational study finds that more than half of the respondents in the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany have a favorable impression of Taiwan. This is particularly the case in Japan (76 percent), the United States (73 percent), and the United Kingdom (68 percent). Opinion leaders are even more likely to say they have a favorable opinion of Taiwan, with as many as 94 percent of respondents in Japan and 91 percent in the United States viewing Taiwan favorably. Respondents in the five countries were asked to state whether or not a number of traits described Taiwan: 1) has a democratic system, 2) is technologically developed, 3) has a strong economy, 4) is a good country for business investment, 5) is culturally exciting, and 6) has good food, interesting attractions, and beautiful scenery. The three most frequently cited attributes by the public were technologically developed; has good food, interesting attractions, and beautiful scenery; and has a strong economy. In addition, 68 percent of America's opinion leaders and 73 percent of those in Japan agree that Taiwan has a democratic political system. When asked about their impression of the people of Taiwan, over 60 percent of the respondents considered "hardworking," "friendly," and "peace-loving" as words that describe the Taiwanese. Respondents' main sources of information on Taiwan included television, newspapers, magazines, and books. Sixty-eight percent of the general public in the United Kingdom, 58 percent in France and 54 percent in the United States replied that they learned about Taiwan from its products. Taiwan's International Status More than half of the respondents in the five countries surveyed ranked Taiwan in either the top 25 percent or the top 25-50 percent in terms of national development when compared with other countries around the world. In terms of the four Asian countries Taiwan, China, Japan, and South Korea, the general public in the five countries surveyed has, on the whole, a better impression of Japan, followed by Taiwan and South Korea, while their impression of China is the least favorable. Taiwan's Participation in International Organizations When asked about Taiwan's participation in international organizations, most opinion leaders showed support for Taiwan's participation as an observer in the World Health Organization (WHO) and representation at the United Nations (UN). Support among opinion leaders in the United States for Taiwan's joining the WHO was as high as 89 percent, while 92 percent of opinion leaders in the United Kingdom expressed support. Cross-strait Relations When asked how they would characterize their own country's relationship with Taiwan and China, the percentage of respondents in the five countries who believed that their country maintains friendly relations with Taiwan was higher than those who feel their countries maintain friendly relations with China. One noteworthy point is that, although China maintains its one China principle in the international community, the survey results indicate that over 60 percent of respondents in the five countries see Taiwan and China as two separate sovereign countries. Furthermore, as high as 85 percent of the general public and 90 percent or more of the opinion leaders surveyed said they opposed the "anti-secession law," which China enacted in March of this year. The majority of opinion leaders in European Union countries surveyed (78 percent in Germany, 70 percent in the United Kingdom, and 62 percent in France) also oppose lifting the EU's arms embargo against China. Methodology For the general population study, samples were selected based on the average population distribution of each country. All respondents were adults, and only one person from each household was polled. Results are subject to a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level. The opinion leader study was conducted with random sampling from lists of the elite and senior officials in six professions, including religious leaders, media representatives, labor union officials, government officials, academics, and business leaders. Results are subject to a sampling error of plus or minus eight percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level. More detail information and related findings have been posted on the GIO's web site: http://www.gio.gov.tw. SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS Taiwan's Image Familiarity with and Favorability of Taiwan - Among the five nations surveyed, the peoples of Japan and the United States report having the most knowledge of Taiwan; the peoples of European Union (EU) nations surveyed lag behind their Japanese and US counterparts in their reported understanding of Taiwan. - In the United States, 44 percent of the general public and 72 percent of opinion leaders remarked that they have some general knowledge of Taiwan; in Japan, 41 percent of the general public and 64 percent of opinion leaders have some general knowledge of Taiwan. - More than half of the general public of the five nations have a favorable impression of Taiwan, in particular, 76 percent of Japanese, followed by 73 percent of Americans and 68 percent of Britons. Opinion leaders of these five nations give Taiwan an even higher favorability rating, in particular Japan (94 percent) and the United States (91 percent). - Favorability toward Taiwan increases with the level of education. Taiwan's National Image - Respondents in the five nations surveyed believe that Taiwan is technologically developed; has good food, interesting attractions, and beautiful scenery; and has a strong economy. - Except for Japan's general public, most of the general public and opinion leaders of the five nations consider Taiwan to be technologically developed. In particular, about 80 percent or more of the opinion leaders of France (90%), Germany (84%) and the United Kingdom (78%) are of that opinion. - Over 60 percent of opinion leaders of the five nations consider Taiwan to be economically strong. - Over half of the respondents in EU nations consider Taiwan a good country for business investment. - Over 70 percent of the general public and opinion leaders of Germany consider Taiwan culturally exciting. - As much as 81 percent of Japan's opinion leaders consider that Taiwan has good food, interesting attractions, and beautiful scenery. - Opinion leaders of the United States (68 percent) and Japan (73 percent) are more likely than opinion leaders in the other three countries to report that Taiwan has a democratic political system. Taiwanese Image - When asked about their impression of the people of Taiwan, 60 percent or more of the respondents view the Taiwanese as hardworking, friendly, and peace-loving. - Aside from Japan and Germany, the majority of opinion leaders and the general public in the other three countries believe "innovative" and "efficient" are fitting descriptions of Taiwanese people. Sources of Information on Taiwan - Television, newspapers, magazines, and books were cited by respondents in the five nations as the main sources of information on Taiwan. - Of the general public, 68 percent in the United Kingdom, 58 percent in France and 54 percent in the United States, replied that they learned about Taiwan from its products. - Japan's opinion leaders said they acquired relevant information on Taiwan through the Internet (58 percent), experience visiting Taiwan (55 percent), and their Taiwanese friends (49 percent). Taiwan's International Status and Its Participation in World Organizations Ranking of Taiwan in Terms of National Development - In terms of national development, the majority of the general public and opinion leaders polled in the five countries rank Taiwan in the top 25 percent or top 25-50 percent of countries around the world. - Approximately 40 percent of opinion leaders polled in France (43%), Japan (41%), and the United States (40%) rank Taiwan among the top 25 percent. Impression of Taiwan vs. Other Asian Countries - The general public of the five countries surveyed were asked about their impressions of Taiwan, China, Japan, and South Korea. Respondents in general have the most favorable impressions of Japan, followed by Taiwan and South Korea, with China viewed the least favorably. - Those who have favorable impressions of Taiwan tend to feel similarly about Japan and South Korea. - The majority of the general public in each country surveyed perceives Taiwan to be friendly, but not an ally. In the United States, 31 percent even regards Taiwan as a US ally. - When asked about China, a majority in most countries surveyed (except Japan) also view China as friendly though not an ally; however, no more than 10 percent in any country surveyed considered China to be ally of their country. Taiwan's Participation in International Organizations (Only opinion leaders were polled) - Most opinion leaders in the five countries polled support Taiwan's participation in the UN, with the United Kingdom (84 percent) being the most supportive. - From 70 to 90-some percent of the polled opinion leaders express support of Taiwan's participation as an observer in the WHO, with the United States (89 percent) and the United Kingdom (92 percent) expressing the greatest amount of support. Cross-strait Relations Favorability Ratings: Taiwan vs. China - Members of the general public surveyed in the five countries, particularly the United States and Japan, show a higher favorability toward Taiwan than toward China. The ratings among Americans are 73 percent for Taiwan and 48 percent for China, while among Japanese, the figures reach 76 percent for Taiwan and 32 percent for China. - Opinion leaders surveyed in the five countries, particularly the United States and Japan, also show a higher favorability toward Taiwan than toward China. Of US opinion leaders, 91 percent view Taiwan favorably, but only 52 percent view China favorably. Among Japan's opinion leaders, the figures are 94 percent and 47 percent, respectively. Understanding of Taiwan's Position with respect to China - More than 60 percent of the general public and opinion leaders surveyed in the five countries consider that Taiwan and China are two separate sovereign countries. - In the United Kingdom, 81 percent of the general public and 82 percent of opinion leader surveyed believe that Taiwan and China are two separate sovereign countries. - Those who know that Taiwan has a democratic political system are more likely to also agree that Taiwan and China are two separate sovereign countries. China's "Anti-Secession Law" - More than 85 percent of the general public and 90 percent or more of opinion leaders polled in the five countries oppose the "anti-secession law" formulated by China. Lifting of the European Union's Arms Embargo against China (Only EU opinion leaders were polled) - Over 60 percent of opinion leaders surveyed in the European Union countries polled (78 percent in Germany, 70 percent in the United Kingdom, and 62 percent in France) feel that the European Union should not lift its arms embargo against China.

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