TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Around 67 percent of people in Taiwan identify as Taiwanese, the highest figure since the poll began in 1992, according to National Chengchi University's Election Study Center.

The survey, which investigates changes in Taiwanese identity, saw the proportion of those who self-identify as “Taiwanese” soar to 67 percent in 2020, a sharp rise from 56.9 percent last year. The figure marks the highest point since 1992, when only 17.6 percent held the view.

People who regard themselves as “both Taiwanese and Chinese” dropped to 27.5 percent in 2020, the lowest since the first survey, which saw 46.4 percent respond this way. Those who prefer to be called “Chinese” logged 2.4 percent this year, and this reflects a flattened curve since 2008.

Separately, an opinion poll on Taiwan’s fate suggests an upward trend toward formal independence. Around 27.7 percent favor “maintaining the status quo and moving toward independence,” the highest since 1994 and a steep uptick from 15.1 percent in 2018 and 21.8 percent in 2019.

People who support “maintaining the status quo and deciding at a later date” declined to 28.7 percent, while those wishing to “maintain the status quo indefinitely” also slipped to 23.6 percent. Additionally, 7.4 percent opted for “independence as soon as possible,” and only 0.7 percent would like to see immediate unification with China.

The annual survey targeted individuals aged 20 and older living on Taiwan's main island.

(National Chengchi University's Election Study Center images)