That might have something to do with whether the woman in question is a waishengren (外省人) or benshengren (Literally, "extraprovincial" and uh... "intraprovincial"? But they refer to the largely Mandarin-speaking population that came with Chiang Kai-shek after the Civil War, and the largely Minnan speaking population that's been around since the Ming dynasty). Waishengren, as might be expected, are generally more in favor of KMT and pan-blue and reunification in general, whereas benshengren are usually more open to the DPP, pan-green, and Taiwanese localization (and perhaps independence, though supporters of "Taidu" still remain a minority). As with any other place of similar size, the Taiwanese population isn't monolithic.
Incidentally, whatever The Epoch Times says, I think the possibility of a cross-strait military conflict anytime in the forseeable future is really low. It would be, as you point out, disastrous for almost everybody involved.
Also, you noted that neither side recognizes the other's independence. While this is true de jure, since Lee Teng-hui's time, Taiwan (the ROC, if you like) has informally acknowledged the mainland's independence, and made overtures toward Mongolia (which it still recognizes de jure as part of the ROC). Actually changing the claimed borders of the ROC (which includes both Outer Mongolia and Tibet) is constitutionally problematic.
I tend to distrust polls on the issue; they devolve too much on definitions of exactly what "Taiwanese independence" means. Would representation of Taiwan in the WTO be independence? What about scrapping the old ROC constitution? All of these are controversial moves, which are seen by some as tantamount to a declaration of independence, and some as just... not.
If you're wondering where I come down on the issue (as someone who can conveniently register for dual ROC citizenship as a closer than a sixth-generation descendant of a Chinese person, due to the Republic's rather racist citizenship laws), I, just like—as far as I know from watching the news—most Taiwanese citizens, just favor the status quo. With a few exceptions, Taiwan manages to conduct the necessary day-to-day affairs of a country through Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices or whatever.
(Not that I'm planning on registering for citizenship anytime soon. The only benefit I can see is using my "minguo" birth year on the ID card to make myself look older, and the downside is putting myself at risk for military service if I spend too much time in Taiwan.)
no subject
Incidentally, whatever The Epoch Times says, I think the possibility of a cross-strait military conflict anytime in the forseeable future is really low. It would be, as you point out, disastrous for almost everybody involved.
Also, you noted that neither side recognizes the other's independence. While this is true de jure, since Lee Teng-hui's time, Taiwan (the ROC, if you like) has informally acknowledged the mainland's independence, and made overtures toward Mongolia (which it still recognizes de jure as part of the ROC). Actually changing the claimed borders of the ROC (which includes both Outer Mongolia and Tibet) is constitutionally problematic.
I tend to distrust polls on the issue; they devolve too much on definitions of exactly what "Taiwanese independence" means. Would representation of Taiwan in the WTO be independence? What about scrapping the old ROC constitution? All of these are controversial moves, which are seen by some as tantamount to a declaration of independence, and some as just... not.
If you're wondering where I come down on the issue (as someone who can conveniently register for dual ROC citizenship as a closer than a sixth-generation descendant of a Chinese person, due to the Republic's rather racist citizenship laws), I, just like—as far as I know from watching the news—most Taiwanese citizens, just favor the status quo. With a few exceptions, Taiwan manages to conduct the necessary day-to-day affairs of a country through Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices or whatever.
(Not that I'm planning on registering for citizenship anytime soon. The only benefit I can see is using my "minguo" birth year on the ID card to make myself look older, and the downside is putting myself at risk for military service if I spend too much time in Taiwan.)