TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Taiwan-US poll found that Taiwanese and Americans differ on whether Washington would send troops if Beijing launches an invasion, but both support maintaining the status quo. 

On Monday (Dec. 2), the Ministry of National Defense's Institute for National Defense and Security Research and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs released the results of a joint survey that examined how Taiwanese and Americans view the Taiwan Strait situation and bilateral security cooperation. 

When asked how the US would respond to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Americans were asked what action they would support, while Taiwanese predicted the likelihood of these actions. The biggest differences of opinion came when asked if the US would send troops to help defend Taiwan and whether it would send additional weapons.

Of the Taiwanese respondents, 53% think the US would probably send forces to help fight off a Chinese invasion, while only 36% of Americans support this, a gap of 17%. When it comes to weapons shipments, the same gap could be seen with 76% of Taiwanese believing the US would send arms and military supplies compared to 59% of Americans. 

A minority of Taiwanese at 40% think the US should send its navy to break a Chinese blockade of Taiwan even if this may trigger a war between the US and China. Similarly, 37% of Americans support deploying the US Navy.

The percentages for using the US military to airlift food and medical supplies to Taiwan were almost identical at 75% among Taiwanese and 74% among Americans. Likewise, 73% of Taiwanese believe the US would impose economic sanctions on China and 72% of Americans agree. 

Taiwanese and Americans have a similar overall outlook on maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. The majority of Taiwanese at 60% think Taiwan should keep the status quo, with 34% in favor of this being permanent and 26% wanting to keep it for now and deciding on independence or unification later. 

Of American respondents, 51% believe the US should encourage Taiwan to maintain the status quo, while 36% back Taiwan heading towards independence. Only 4% think the US should encourage Taiwan to unify with China, compared to 1% of Taiwanese who seek unification with China and 6% who are considering it in the future.

Equal percentages of 62% of Taiwanese and Americans think the US relationship strengthens Taiwan's national security. An even higher 72% of Taiwanese believe Taiwan's relationship with Japan bolsters its security, while 74% of Americans say the US relationship with Japan fortifies US security.