About 83 percent of respondents to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs poll believe that Taiwan’s international relations would improve, the ministry said last week.
The poll surveyed public satisfaction with government’s diplomactic policies 100 days into the new administration.
Nearly 60 percent of respondents approved of President William Lai’s (賴清德) diplomatic performance, including his appointees and policies.
Photo: Taipei Times
More than 80 percent of respondents supported the “comprehensive diplomacy” policy proposed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍).
Respondents appeared to strongly agree with the three main pillars of the comprehensive diplomacy policy, with about 82 percent supporting values-based diplomacy, 89 percent supporting economic diplomacy and 84 percent supporting alliance diplomacy.
Other proposals by Lin also had high approval ratings — more active participation in international organizations, which was supported by 92 percent; the New Digital Southbound Policy with 86.4 percent support and a new fund to facilitate investments in allied nations supported by 75 percent.
Additionally, 78 percent of respondents supported the Executive Yuan’s economic diplomacy working group.
The Executive Yuan established the working group to promote cross-ministry collaboration in global affairs under the label “every ministry is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
The idea that “everyone is a diplomat” received even higher approval of 87 percent.
The ministry also surveyed respondents’ feelings toward passport and consular services.
About 89.7 percent of people expressed satisfaction with Taiwan’s passport, while 77 percent were satisfied at the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ services.
Nearly 85 percent agreed that the number of visa-free nations available to Taiwanese passport holders reflects international recognition of the nation’s democracy and economic strength.
The survey was conducted by Trend Survey & Research Co from Aug. 16 to 20 via telephone.
There were 1,596 respondents and it had a 95 percent confidence level with a margin of error of 2.45 percentage points.
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