TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's export-dependent economy confronts growing uncertainty as potential U.S. tariff hikes loom on the horizon, creating anxiety across the island's industrial sector. A new public opinion poll released Friday (April 18) revealed that nearly 70 percent of Taiwanese citizens favor semiconductor pioneer Morris Chang (張忠謀), the 93-year-old founder of chip manufacturing giant TSMC (台積電), to represent the nation in critical trade negotiations with the United States.
The survey, conducted by the "Broadcasting Corporation of China Public Opinion Survey Association" (中廣民意調查協會), a polling organization affiliated with a major Taiwanese media outlet, was spearheaded by its former chairman Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康), a prominent conservative political figure. The poll measured public sentiment regarding the government's trade strategy as Taiwan braces for what many fear could become a punishing tariff war if Donald Trump returns to the White House in next year's U.S. presidential election.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), who took office in May last year, announced on April 6 that Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君) would head a delegation to Washington to pursue zero-tariff arrangements with American officials. The poll results, however, indicate lukewarm public confidence in Cheng's appointment, with only 30.33% of respondents expressing satisfaction with her selection. An almost equal proportion, 27.79%, voiced dissatisfaction, while a significant 41.88% remained undecided or declined to answer.
The survey revealed overwhelming public preference for Morris Chang, with 67.93% of respondents backing the semiconductor industry titan who built TSMC into the world's leading chipmaker. Only 20.64% opposed his potential appointment, while 11.42% were undecided or refused to respond. Former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who completed her maximum two terms earlier this year, garnered support from 49.18% of those polled, with 36.68% opposing her selection and 14.14% expressing uncertainty or withholding judgment.
