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Only 19 percent satisfied with Tsai gov’t’s S. China Sea ruling
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Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (center right) reviews nautical charts aboard a Taiwan Navy ship before it sets out to patrol in the South China Sea from the naval base in the southern port city of Khaohsiung, Taiwan. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP/-)
P
resident Tsai Ing-wen held her first senior-level national security meeting on the contested South China Sea ruling Tuesday, just after a poll was released showing only 19 percent of respondents in favor of how she was handling the issue.
Only 19 percent of those polled supported the Tsai administration’s response to the international arbitration tribunal ruling, which undermined the nation’s claims in the contested South China Sea, most notably Taiping Island.
The poll, carried out by TVBS (news television channel in Taiwan), showed that 45 percent were not in favor of the government’s response, while 36 percent declined to answer.
In terms of a government response, 69 percent believed Tsai should visit Taiping to assert the nation’s sovereignty and claims to a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. Only 13 percent disapproved of the visit, while 18 percent declined to comment.
The poll also surveyed participant’s responses to the ruling according to their political party affiliation. An overwhelming 81 percent of Kuomintang supporters were in favor of Tsai visiting Taiping.
Around 69 percent of Democratic Progressive Party supporters said they wished to see Tsai visit the island, while 19 percent opposed such an action, with 12 percent declining to answer. Of New Power Party supporters, 65 percent were in favor of such an action, 25 percent disapproved, and only 10 percent declined to comment.
At least 80 percent polled knew that Taiping had been downgraded to a “rock” after the ruling, while 20 percent did not, an indication that the public closely followed the case and understood the implications of the ruling.
Despite disapproval of the government’s handling of the ruling over the past week, at least 48 percent still expressed confidence in the Tsai administration’s ability to safeguard the nation’s claims in the contested waters, while 39 percent did not.
An overwhelming 68 percent polled believed Taiwan should resume the practice of stationing military on Taiping; 18 percent disapproved and 14 percent declined to respond.
Late Tuesday night, Tsai announced her administration’s five-pronged strategy for addressing the ruling during a national security meeting with senior heads of government.
Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang reiterated the government’s rejection of the ruling, saying that the Republic of China was not legally bound to follow it.
Tsai, whose remarks were relayed by Huang, proposed that the government strengthen efforts to safeguard the nation’s fishing rights in the area and to protect fishermen’s safety during fishing operations.
Tsai’s measures also include increasing multilateral discussions with relevant countries, spearheaded by the Foreign Affairs Ministry; and promoting scientific research on Taiping in areas such as geology, earthquakes, and weather by sending international experts to the island through the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Other tactics are turning the island into a humanitarian rescue center and transportation and supply base, as well as encouraging maritime law experts to strengthen Taiwan’s response to issues revolving international law.
