《TAIPEI TIMES》China threat concerns Americans: survey

By William Hetherington / Staff writer

More than 70 percent of Americans are concerned about the threat of China invading Taiwan within five years, while 43 percent would support committing ground troops to Taiwan’s defense, a poll released on Thursday by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute showed.

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“The Reagan National Defense Survey is a public opinion poll that assists elected officials, policymakers and key stakeholders with understanding how Americans view a wide array of defense, foreign policy and national security matters,” says the Web site of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, which conducted the survey.

The fifth annual survey focused on confidence in the US military.

It found that 48 percent of respondents were confident in the military, down from 70 percent in the first year the survey was conducted.

It attributed the decline to “military leadership becoming overly politicized, with 62 percent overall saying that has decreased their confidence,” among other factors.

Despite the negative perception, 57 percent of respondents believe the US “must continue to stand with the people of Ukraine and oppose Russian aggression in order to protect a friendly democracy and prevent future Russian threats to Europe,” the survey said.

An increasing number of respondents expressed concerns over threats posed by Chinese aggression and authoritarianism, it said.

Three-quarters viewed China as an enemy of the US, while 54 percent believe the US government does not have a clear strategy to manage ties with China, it said.

Asked about the threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, 70 percent expressed concern it might happen within the next five years, it said.

Forty-three percent would support committing US troops to Taiwan’s defense, it said.

Respondents across party lines largely favored other means of supporting Taiwan, such as increasing arms sales and the US military presence in the region as a deterrent.

“Forty years ago, [then-US] President [Ronald] Reagan demanded we stand up against authoritarianism in all its forms,” institute director Roger Zakheim said.

“Americans are firmly resolved ... that the United States has an obligation to fiercely protect our nation and freedom in the world,” he said.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES