[Global Times Special Correspondent Cheng Dong] Since October, more than 150 PLA ​​fighters have entered the Southwest Taiwan Air Defense Identification Zone.

A poll published on the 13th by the Brookings Institution, an American think tank, found that Taiwanese people are more worried about potential conflicts than generally believed.

　　According to polls, 57.6% of the interviewees said that they are worried about a war in the Taiwan Strait, and this "fear" has crossed Taiwan's political parties. Supporters of both the Democratic Progressive Party and the KMT are worried about the possibility of war, but Supporters of the Kuomintang are more worried about war than supporters of the DPP.

　　The outside world generally thinks that young people in Taiwan are relatively naive about the situation in the Taiwan Strait, or do not know much about Taiwan's political reality.

However, the survey found that people on the island do not have age-specific fears about military conflicts. The proportion of respondents in each age group is about 60%.

In addition, nearly 80% of the interviewees believe that the frequency of mainland military operations against Taiwan has increased in the past six months, "this also means that Taiwanese can clearly feel the changes in cross-strait relations."

The investigation report also stated that although the community on the island usually does not react very much when the PLA military plane passes through the Taiwan Air Defense Identification Zone, the public does take note of the information. “They also seem to know better than many American policymakers. Military pressure continues to increase".

However, although they are worried about the situation, most interviewees still believe that "this is not the time to panic."

　　When asked about their views on the defense capabilities of the Taiwan authorities, most of the interviewees held a pessimistic attitude.

Only 25.8% of people think that Taiwan’s defense capabilities have improved, 35% of people believe that Taiwan’s defense capabilities are not as good as before, and 40% believe that there is "no change."

The Brookings Institution’s report stated that “obviously, the Taiwan authorities need to make further efforts to convince Taiwan residents that their military is capable of protecting them.”

　　Taiwan’s military stated in the “National Defense Report” that “Faced with changes in regional conditions and the CCP’s continued military deterrence against Taiwan, the National Army actively promotes the development of national defense and the reconstruction of combat capabilities, and strengthens various combat training and preparations to build a strong and reliable structure. Defensive combat power".

Qiu Taisan, chairman of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, said on the 14th that the PLA’s military aircraft had recently “surrounded Taiwan” and “have reached a quasi-war layout”.

Taiwan’s "Minister of Defense" Qiu Guozheng still said in the "Legislative Yuan" that there is no need for Taiwan to start war, but "As soon as the Communist Army takes action, we will grasp it. Our fighter plane is not a plastic plane standing still, and it will not be unresponsive. ".

　　The spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Mainland, Ma Xiaoguang, said at a press conference on the 13th that the PLA exercises are aimed at "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and interference by external forces. The purpose is to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and safeguard compatriots on both sides of the strait. The common interests of the People’s Republic of China are entirely just actions.