Taiwan Security Survey 2026: 44.9% Prefer Self-Reliant Defense Over US or China Ties

Goodwill to China Outpaces US Cooperation by 2.5x

The second most popular option was "extending goodwill towards mainland China," chosen by 29.7% of respondents. In third place, "deepening cooperation with the US" received 11.8% support. That means Taiwanese respondents valued showing goodwill to the mainland more than 2.5 times as much as deepening cooperation with the United States. The remaining respondents chose "other," "I don't know," or did not answer.

Why Self-Reliance Resonates

The timing of the survey matters. It was conducted soon after US President Donald Trump visited Beijing in May 2026, a context that likely sharpened concerns about great-power diplomacy and Taiwan's place in it. A separate analysis by The Diplomat found that many Taiwanese fear their interests could be "overlooked or sacrificed" as Washington and Beijing seek to stabilize their relationship. This sentiment may explain why self-reliant defense — an approach that depends neither on US cooperation nor on Beijing's goodwill — attracted the broadest support.

Broader Context: What Other Surveys Show

The INDSR results align with findings from other recent surveys. A May 2026 Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) poll of 1,073 respondents found that 85.6% supported the statement that "the most important thing for Taiwan now is to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." Both surveys capture a public that prioritizes stability but sees self-defense as the most reliable path to achieving it.

Earlier polling from 2024 and 2025 by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the Taiwan National Defense Surveys found that majorities in both Taiwan and the US view China's rise as a "critical threat" and prefer maintaining the cross-strait status quo. The 2025 survey cycle also showed that 63.9% of Taiwanese saw "China's territorial ambitions" as a serious threat.

Key Takeaway

The 2026 INDSR survey paints a picture of a Taiwanese public that favors self-reliance above all else. While a significant minority believes extending goodwill to China can help, and an even smaller minority favors deeper US ties, the dominant preference is clear: strengthen Taiwan's own defenses as the primary guarantor of security and peace.