TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Eighty-three percent of the public believes Taiwan's foreign relations will improve under President Lai Ching-te (剌青的), according to a survey released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Wednesday (Aug. 28).
Nearly 60% were satisfied with the handling of foreign relations and policies during his first 100 days in office. The survey also revealed strong public support for MOFA's "comprehensive diplomacy" strategy, with over 80% approval for its three main pillars: common values (82%), economy (89%), and maintaining allies (84%).
Lai’s initiatives, including efforts to expand Taiwan’s global space and the "Digital New Southbound Policy," garnered over 75% of public support.
Additionally, 78% of respondents agreed with the establishment of the Economic Diplomacy Task Force, which integrates the diplomatic efforts of all government ministries under the idea that "every ministry is a mini-foreign ministry." The concept of "everyone is a diplomat" received even higher approval, with 87% of respondents endorsing this idea.
The survey also looked at satisfaction with passport and consular services. Many respondents were satisfied with the convenience and practicality of Taiwan's passports (89.7%), while 77% expressed satisfaction with the passport and visa services provided by MOFA’s Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Almost 85% of respondents agreed that the number of visa-free countries for Taiwanese passport holders reflected international recognition of Taiwan’s democracy and economic strength, as well as the success of the government's diplomatic strategies.
The survey was commissioned by MOFA and conducted by Trend Survey and Research Co. from Aug. 16-20 through landline and mobile phone interviews. A total of 1,596 valid samples were collected through stratified random sampling from across Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, including its outlying islands.
The sample included individuals aged 20 and above with varying levels of education. The survey has a margin of error of ±2.45% with a confidence level of 95%.
