His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Menu
Search
Social
Language
  • The Dalai Lama
  • Schedule
  • In Pictures
  • Videos
English
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
LIVE Webcasts
  • Home
  • The Dalai Lama
  • Schedule
  • News
  • In Pictures
  • Videos
  • More
Messages
  • Compassion and Human Values
  • World Peace
  • Environment
  • Religious Harmony
  • Buddhism
  • Retirement and Reincarnation
  • Tibet
  • Articles, Transcripts and Interviews
  • Acceptance Speeches
  • Dolgyal (Shugden)
Teachings
  • Practical Advice for Attending the Teachings in India
  • Training the Mind
  • Words of Truth
  • Introduction to the Kalachakra
Office
  • Public Audiences
  • Private Audiences
  • Media Interviews
  • Invitations
  • Contact
  • The Gaden Phodrang Foundation
Books
  • Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics, Vol. 4: Philosophical Topics
  • Heart to Heart
  • Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics, Vol. 3: Philosophical Schools
  • The Little Book of Joy
  • Searching for the Self - Library of Wisdom and Compassion Vol 7
  • This Fragile Planet: His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Environment
View all books
  • News

Polls Show Approval For Humanitarian Visit By Dalai Lama September 3, 2009

Share

Taipei, Taiwan, 3 September 2009 (Central News Agency) - Over three fourths of the Taiwan people supported the visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama to pray for the hundreds of victims of Typhoon Morakot and their survivors, according to an opinion poll conducted by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party.

DPP Public Survey Center director Chen Chun-lin stated that 75.4 percent of 708 Taiwan adults over 20 years of age surveyed between Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 expressed support for the Dalai Lama's visit to pray for the disaster victims, while only 18.1 percent opposed the journey.

Chen observed that approval for the Dalai Lama's visit transcended partisan boundaries as the journey received backing by 90.6 percent of "pan-green" supporters of the DPP, 75.8 percent of "middle" voters and 64.0 percent of persons who identify with the pro-KMT "pan-blue" camp.

Moreover, the survey indicated that 67.2 percent viewed the Dalai Lama's visit as a journey of compassion and religious prayer for the disaster victims and was a non-political activity, while 23.4 percent disagreed. Similarly, 50.7 percent disagreed with claims that the DPP camp had invited the Tibetan religious leader to Taiwan "for political purposes," while 37.0 percent agreed with such claims.

Nevertheless, 77.7 percent of those polled stated that the series of demonstrations against the Dalai Lama were "inappropriate," with just 13.1 percent approving of the protests.

Most of the protests were conducted by the pro-China Labor Party or the pro-Beijing "Alliance for the Promotion of Chinese Unification," which has been linked to former United Bamboo Gang chief Chang Pai-leh. The latter group was involved in a violent scuffle at the Taoyuan High Speed Railway Station Sunday evening.

In addition, 79.6 percent of those polled stated that the sharp criticism by the PRC government was "inappropriate," with only 8.8 percent expressing approval of Beijing's attacks on the Dalai Lama and on the DPP for inviting the exiled Tibetan leader. Moreover, 48.6 percent agreed that President Ma should meet with the Dalai Lama, with 36.4 percent disagreeing.

DPP Public Survey Center Director Chen Chun-lin said that disapproval of the PRC criticism crossed partisan boundaries and that 81.1 percent of persons who identified themselves as supporting the pro-KMT "blue camp," 89.2 percent of DPP supporters and 72.4 percent of uncommitted voters slammed Beijing's actions.

In addition, 52.0 percent said they believed the Dalai Lama's visit would not have an negative impact on cross-strait relations with the PRC, while 39.9 percent said ties with China would be affected to a greater or lesser degree.

The survey of 708 Taiwan adults was conducted by the DPP Public Survey Center and has a 95 percent confidence rating and a 3.7-percentage point standard deviation.

The results of the DPP poll were broadly similar to a survey of 939 Taiwan adults conducted by the TVBS cable television network, which found that 52 percent of respondents believed the Dalai Lama's visit was for religious and humanitarian purposes.


  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • All Content Copyright © The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Copy

Choose Language

  • Tibetan
  • Chinese
  • Korean
  • Hindi
  • Japanese
  • Italiano
  • Deutsch
  • Mongol
  • Russian
  • Français
  • Tiếng Việt
  • Español

Social Channels

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube

Choose Language

  • Tibetan
  • Chinese
  • Korean
  • Hindi
  • Japanese
  • Deutsch
  • Italiano
  • Mongol
  • Russian
  • Français
  • Tiếng Việt
  • Español

Search Website

Popular Searches

  • Schedule
  • Biography
  • Awards
  • Homepage
  • The Dalai Lama
    • Biography and Daily Life
      • Principal Commitments
      • Brief Biography
      • Birth to Exile
      • Retirement
        • 52nd Anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day Statement
        • Message to 14th Assembly
        • Retirement Remarks
      • Reincarnation
      • Routine Day
      • Questions & Answers
    • Previous Dalai Lamas
      • Short Biographies of the Previous Dalai Lamas
    • Events and Awards
      • Chronology of Events
      • Awards & Honors 2000 - Present
        • Award & Honors 1957 - 1999
      • Dignitaries Met 2011 - Present
        • Dignitaries Met 2005 - 2010
        • Dignitaries Met 2000 - 2004
        • Dignitaries Met 1990 - 1999
        • Dignitaries Met 1954 - 1989
      • Travels
        • Travels 2010 - Present
        • Travels 2000 - 2009
        • Travels 1990 - 1999
        • Travels 1980 - 1989
        • Travels 1959 - 1979
  • Schedule
    • 2023 Archive
    • 2022 Archive
    • 2021 Archive
    • 2020 Archive
    • 2019 Archive
    • 2018 Archive
    • 2017 Archive
    • 2016 Archive
    • 2015 Archive
    • 2014 Archive
    • 2013 Archive
    • 2012 Archive
    • 2011 Archive
    • 2010 Archive
    • 2009 Archive
    • 2008 Archive
  • News
    • 2023 Archive
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2022 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2021 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2020 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2019 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2018 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2017 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2016 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2015 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2014 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2013 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2012 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2011 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2010 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2009 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2008 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2007 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2006 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
    • 2005 Archive
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
  • In Pictures
  • Videos
  • Messages
  • Teachings
    • Practical Advice for Attending the Teachings in India
    • Training the Mind
      • Training the Mind: Verse 1
      • Training the Mind: Verse 2
      • Training the Mind: Verse 3
      • Training the Mind: Verse 4
      • Training the Mind: Verse 5 & 6
      • Training the Mind: Verse 7
      • Training the Mind: Verse 8
      • Generating the Mind for Enlightenment
    • Words of Truth
    • Introduction to the Kalachakra
  • Office
    • Public Audiences
    • Private Audiences
    • Media Interviews
    • Invitations
    • Contact
    • The Gaden Phodrang Foundation
  • Books
  • LIVE Webcasts