The figure is 53%, up five points compared to August. His harsh stance towards China appreciated. In the rest of the Asia-Pacific region, desire for a victory of his rival Joe Biden's prevails. US anti-espionage: The Chinese wish the incumbent president's defeat.
Taipei (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Taiwanese want Donald Trump to be re-elected to the presidency of the United States, according a poll published yesterday by the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation. The island is one of the few countries in the world that openly sides with the current US president.
According to the data, 53% of respondents hope that Trump will beat his Democratic rival Joe Biden in the presidential elections on November 3; only 31.5 hopes otherwise. The margin has increased compared to a survey carried out in August (48.1% in favour of re-election and 39.6% against).
Trump's popularity among Taiwanese is due to his harsh policy towards China, and his support for Taipei, which the Chinese leadership considers a "rebellious province" to be reconquered even by force. In the past week, Washington has approved two weapons sales to the government of Tsai Ing-wen worth 4.2 billion dollars, causing anger in Beijing.
In the rest of the Asia-Pacific region, however, anti-Trump sentiment prevails. A survey conducted in mid-October by YouGov in eight countries in the region confirmed the preference of Taiwanese for "Donald" (42% in favour and 30% against), but also the opposition of the population of Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
For example, 42% of respondents in Hong Kong desire a Biden a victory, compared to 36% who support Trump. The most critical of the current White House tenant are the Singaporeans: 66% want the Democratic presidential candidate; only 12% support the president.
Research ignores expectations in China. According to a recent assessment by the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (US anti-espionage), reported by the BBC, the majority of Chinese (including the leadership of the regime) do not want the re-election of Trump, considered too unpredictable a leader.