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Record-high Taiwanese optimistic about China ties: poll
2008-01-19
Nearly half of Taiwanese people are optimistic that the island's ties with rival China could improve this year, following the opposition's victory in last week's elections, a poll showed Saturday. Some 47 percent were hopeful for better cross-strait ties -- a rise of 14 percent from a similar poll last year and the highest since 2003, according to a survey conducted by TVBS cable news channel. Twenty-four percent of the 1,251 people polled on Wednesday and Thursday said they were pessimistic about Taiwan-China relations, a decrease of 14 percent and the lowest in recent years. The rest had no comment. Fifty percent were also hopeful of better prospects for Taiwan in 2008, with the anticipation of eased tensions and closer trade ties with China -- a hike of 18 percent. Some 31 percent said they remained downcast about the future of the island, but that is still down 21 percent on a year ago. The opposition Kuomintang (KMT), which favours closer ties with Beijing, dealt a humiliating blow to the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) last week, winning 81 of 113 seats in the new parliament. The DPP won just 27 seats. The KMT's smaller allies took the remaining five seats. The win gives the KMT a major boost ahead of March polls to choose a successor to President Chen Shui-bian, whose drive to assert Taiwan's independent identity has irked Beijing and Washington, one of Taipei's key allies. China still regards the island part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. The two sides split in 1949 after a civil war. The KMT's 51-year grip on power ended in 2000 when Chen was elected. He was re-elected in 2004 for a second and final term.
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