Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/03/14
By: Lilian Wu

Taipei, March 14 (CNA) The ratio of people who identify themselves as Taiwanese is as high as 73 percent, while the ratio among those aged 20-29 is even higher, at 85 percent, according to a survey by a major local newspaper.

The poll by the United Daily News, published Monday, shows that the ratio of those who identify themselves as Taiwanese has climbed to 73 percent from 44 percent in a similar poll in 1996, when Taiwan held its first popular presidential election.

The figure represents a two-decade high. In comparison, those who identify themselves as Chinese dropped to 11 percent from the 31 percent 20 years old, setting a new low.

In the latest survey, 10 percent of those polled said they are both Taiwanese and Chinese. One percent said Taiwanese are Chinese and six percent declined to comment.

On Taiwan’s future, 46 percent expressed the hope of keeping the cross-Taiwan Strait status quo permanently, but 19 percent said they hope for early independence, 17 percent said they want to maintain the status quo before independence, and 4 percent said they want early unification.     [FULL  STORY]