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Taiwanese leader William Lai’s approval rating plunges over cross-strait tensions: poll
Annual survey adds pressure on William Lai Ching-te as more voters say they want dialogue, not confrontation with Beijing
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Lawrence Chungin Taipei
Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te’s approval rating has taken a sharp blow, with more than 60 per cent of eligible voters expressing disapproval of his handling of cross-strait relations, according to a new survey.
Even as Beijing’s military pressure intensified, most respondents said the two sides should keep talking – a verdict that has underscored mounting unease with Lai’s leadership.
The annual cross-strait relations survey released by the United Daily News in Taipei on Monday found dissatisfaction with Lai’s performance on cross-strait policy had surged to 63 per cent, up 20 points from the same time last year. Lai’s positive ratings, meanwhile, have collapsed from 44 per cent to just 26 per cent.
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The results mark a dramatic shift in public opinion a little more than 16 months into Lai’s term, with voters increasingly doubtful about his ability to manage the island’s most sensitive relationship – with the mainland.
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Party loyalties showed clear divisions in the survey. More than 90 per cent of Kuomintang (KMT) supporters – Taiwan’s main opposition force – and those of the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) said they were dissatisfied.
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