[Survey Background]

In May 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a summit in Beijing, marking one of the most significant developments in U.S.-China relations in recent years. The meeting covered a wide range of issues, including trade, technology, regional security, and international affairs, with Taiwan remaining a key topic in bilateral discussions. For Taiwan, interactions between senior U.S. and Chinese leaders may not only influence cross-Strait relations and the regional security environment but also shape public perceptions of national security, foreign policy, and the government's strategic responses. Understanding how Taiwanese citizens interpret the implications of the Trump–Xi summit, and how these perceptions are reflected in their attitudes toward national defense and foreign policy, provides valuable insights for policymakers. This survey was commissioned by INDSR and implemented by the Pollcracy Lab of the Election Study Center at National Chengchi University (NCCU) using an online questionnaire. Fieldwork was conducted from May 28 to 31, 2026. A total of 1,127 valid interviews were completed, including 785 landline and 342 mobile phone interviews. At the 95% confidence level, the maximum sampling error is ±2.92 percentage points.

[Summary of Latest Survey Findings]

1. The Trump–Xi Summit Attracted Widespread Public Attention

 • Approximately 58.7% of respondents reported that they had followed news coverage of the Trump–Xi summit, indicating substantial public awareness of the event. Older respondents and supporters of the major political parties were generally more attentive to summit-related news, whereas younger respondents (aged 18–29) and politically independent respondents reported relatively lower levels of attention.

2. The Summit Increased Expectations for Improved U.S.-China Relations but Did Not Alter Perceptions of China's Military Pressure on Taiwan

 • Most respondents believed that the summit did not substantially change U.S.-China relations. Nevertheless, a majority also believed that China's military pressure on Taiwan would either remain unchanged or increase, suggesting that renewed high-level engagement between Washington and Beijing did not lead the public to expect a reduction in Beijing's military coercion toward Taiwan.

3. Most Respondents Perceived No Change in U.S. Support for Taiwan or Taiwan's Overall Security Environment

 • Around 60% of respondents believed that the Trump–Xi summit had not changed either U.S. support for Taiwan or Taiwan's overall security environment. However, perceptions of U.S. support differed significantly across partisan groups, indicating that political affiliation continues to shape public interpretations of security-related developments.

4. Many Respondents Worried That Taiwan's Interests Could Be Overlooked, While Views on Potential U.S. Military Intervention Remained Divided

 • Approximately 51% of respondents believed that Taiwan's interests could be overlooked or sacrificed during U.S.-China interactions, exceeding the proportion who believed Taiwan's interests would be adequately protected. Regarding a potential cross-Strait conflict, respondents who believed the United States would likely intervene militarily slightly outnumbered those who believed it would not. Nevertheless, public opinion remained divided, and confidence in possible U.S. military intervention declined compared with the March 2026 survey.

5. Strengthening Taiwan's Defense Capabilities Ranked as the Top Priority for Maintaining National Security and Cross-Strait Peace

 • When asked to identify the single most important measure for maintaining national security and peace across the Taiwan Strait, respondents most frequently selected "strengthening Taiwan's own defense capabilities." As the second most important priority, respondents most frequently chose "deepening cooperation with the United States." ”

6. Partisan Identification Remains the Most Important Factor Shaping Security Perceptions

 • Overall, partisan identification emerged as the most consistent factor associated with differences in respondents' perceptions across the survey. The findings suggest that political affiliation continues to play a significant role in shaping how Taiwanese citizens interpret the Trump–Xi summit and related national security issues.

[Application Procedure]

To apply for access to this dataset, please complete the application form after reviewing the Data Release Guidelines and questionnaire items. Submit the form to indsrpoll@gmail.com. Upon approval, the data will be sent via email. Applicants must comply with INDSR’s Data Release Guidelines when using the data.