Month: May 2022

Same-sex marriage support still up substantially since 2018

As Taiwan approaches the third anniversary of its legalization of same-sex marriage on May 24, support for the right of gay couples to wed has risen to 60.9 percent, still up substantially from four years earlier, according to the results of a new survey released Sunday. Focustaiwan.tw

%Same-sex Marriage Survey in Taiwan
60.9Support for the right of gay couples to wed
71Same-sex married couples should have the right to adopt children
71.8Agreed that same-sex couples can raise children just as well as opposite-sex couples
76.5Transgender people should dress in whatever way they feel comfortable at school or work
89.4No problem with having a transgender coworker
The Gender Equality Committee’s survey was conducted by telephone from May 4-6 with 1,076 valid responses from people aged 20 and older. It had a confidence level of 95 percent and a margin of error of plus or minus 2.99 percentage points.

China decries ‘ulterior motives’ behind US support of Taiwan’s WHA inclusion

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) issued a press release citing Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian (朱鳳蓮) as saying the U.S. has ulterior motives for “making a deal out of” Taiwan’s lack of observer status in the WHA. She insisted that Taiwan’s participation in the body under the name “Chinese Taipei” from 2009-2016 was “a special arrangement” made under the one China principle and had not “set an example.” taiwannews.com.tw

Taiwan sees COVID surge last longer amid falling infection figures

For weeks, experts have predicted the daily number of infections would exceed 100,000, first around May 11 and later between May 20 and May 30. However, as the number fell two consecutive days after reaching a record 90,331 Thursday (May 19), the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said the trend was both a good and bad sign. taiwannews.com.tw

Majority of adults would take up arms if China invaded

More than half of the adults in Taiwan would be willing to take up arms if China attacked the country, a survey conducted and released by the Association of Chinese Elite Leadership (ACEL) suggested Friday. Focustaiwan.tv

Survey Results
61.4% Willing to take up arms to defend Taiwan
25.1% Would Not

The ACEL poll was conducted from May 18-, targeting individuals aged 20 or older.
The poll received 1,073 valid samples, with interviews conducted via telephone, and has a margin of error of 2.98 percent, with a 95 percent level of confidence.

A Fight Over Taiwan Could Go Nuclear

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has raised the specter of nuclear war, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has placed his nuclear forces at an elevated state of alert and has warned that any effort by outside parties to interfere in the war would result in “consequences you have never seen.” Such saber-rattling has understandably made headlines and drawn notice in Washington. But if China attempted to forcibly invade Taiwan and the United States came to Taipei’s aid, the threat of escalation could outstrip even the current nerve-wracking situation in Europe. Foreign Affairs