Majority favors ECFA: MAC poll

The survey, carried out by a private consultancy for the Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), also found that 23.5 percent of the respondents were not in favor, contending that such an agreement is unnecessary.

A total of 69.2 percent of those polled said they believe Taiwan and China will develop even closer trade and commerce ties in the future.

Around 60 percent of the respondents said that a Taiwan-China ECFA will help Taiwan clinch similar accords with other countries, while 60 percent said lower tariffs ensured by an ECFA will help Taiwanese products grab a bigger share of the Chinese market, according to the survey.

Concerning the sensitive Taiwan sovereignty issue, 53.6 percent said they believe the planned ECFA is designed to handle economic matters and will not affect Taiwan's independent sovereignty. Nevertheless, 37.7 percent said they were concerned about such a development.

As to the question of whether Chinese investment in Taiwan should be permitted, 79.9 percent agreed that limited opening is acceptable, while 17.2 percent strongly opposed the idea.

Around 90 percent of the respondents said they would not purchase fewer locally made products if more Chinese goods are allowed to enter the domestic market under the terms of an ECFA.

While close to 49 percent of the respondents said they believe that an ECFA will help increase jobs in Taiwan, 23.7 percent did not agree, according to the survey.

The opinion poll was conducted April 8-11, collecting 1,067 valid questionnaires from people aged between 20 and 69. It had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

The MAC expressed hope that the results of the survey will help narrow the gap between the ruling party and the opposition, which is vehemently against such a pact with China, with the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party and the Taiwan Solidarity Union voicing fear that Taiwan's sovereign status would be compromised.

As for concern that an ECFA would deal a heavy blow to Taiwan's traditional businesses, MAC officials said the council will make a more precise assessment of the issue.

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