TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's public remains sharply divided over President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) approach to recent tariff issues, according to a poll released Friday (April 11). The survey revealed that 43.9% of respondents supported the president's stance, while 40.8% opposed it — a narrow margin highlighting significant polarization. Conducted by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation (TPOF, 台灣民意基金會), an independent polling organization, the survey also gauged reactions to Premier Cho Jung-tai's (卓榮泰) proposed NT$88 billion (US$2.68 billion) industry aid package, which garnered 49.4% approval against 39.2% disapproval.
Michael You (游盈隆), chairman of the foundation, observed that despite substantial support for President Lai's stance against implementing retaliatory tariffs while maintaining investment promises to the United States, considerable public skepticism persists. The results exposed stark partisan divisions: 76% of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨), Taiwan's ruling party, supporters endorsed Lai's policy, while merely 16% of opposition Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) voters approved. Among Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) supporters, only 21% backed the president's approach, with 69% opposing it. Similarly, just 28% of politically unaffiliated voters supported Lai's position, with 42% against it. Premier Cho's economic relief package fared somewhat better, showing a 10.2 percentage point advantage in approval ratings.
The nationwide survey was conducted from April 7-9, polling adults aged 20 and above across Taiwan. Researchers employed dual-frame random sampling methodology, utilizing both landline and mobile phone interviews to ensure broad demographic representation. The final analysis incorporated 1,080 valid responses, with 70% collected via landlines and 30% from mobile phones. To enhance accuracy, researchers weighted the results according to demographic data from Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior (內政部), the government agency responsible for population statistics. ★