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More in Taiwan favour goodwill to Beijing over defence ties with US, poll shows

Self-reliance was most preferred when Taiwanese were asked for best approach to safeguarding island security and peace across the strait

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Phoebe Zhangin ShenzhenPublished: 5:00pm, 18 Jun 2026Updated: 5:03pm, 18 Jun 2026Taiwanese value showing goodwill to the mainland more than deepening cooperation with the United States, according to a survey conducted soon after US President Donald Trump visited Beijing last month.The survey, published by the government-funded Institute for National Defence and Security Research in Taipei on Tuesday, polled 1,127 Taiwanese residents from May 28 to 31.

Asked about the most important approach to safeguarding the island’s security and peace across the strait, 44.9 per cent of respondents chose “strengthening self-reliant defence capabilities”, 29.7 per cent favoured “extending goodwill towards mainland China” and 11.8 per cent preferred “deepening cooperation with the US”.

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The remainder chose “other” or “I don’t know”, or did not respond.

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“This suggests that, amid the regional security environment following the Xi-Trump meeting, most people see enhancing their own defensive capacity as a key foundation for maintaining security and peace, rather than prioritising external cooperation or improvements in cross-strait relations,” the institute said.

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There are clear differences in views across party supporters, the survey shows.

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