Taipei - Taiwan people's support for keeping Taiwan's status quo has risen to a record 91.8 per cent due to eased tension in the Taiwan Strait, an opinion poll showed Thursday.

According to the telephone poll of 1,068 adults commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council, 91.8 per cent favoured maintaining the status quo, up from 78.6 per cent in the council's October 15 poll.

It is also the highest support for maintaining the status quo since Taiwan began to conduct surveys on cross-strait ties in the 1980s.

Only six per cent backed Taiwan immediately declaring independence and two per cent wanted immediate unification with the mainland, compared to 14.8 per cent and
1.7 per cent in the October 15 poll.

The poll also showed that 61.7 per cent of Taiwanese thought that Taiwan's opening sea, air and postal links with China on December 15 is beneficial to Taiwan's economy.

Liu Teh-hsun, spokesman for the Mainland Affairs Council, said the rise in support for maintaining Taiwan's status quo shows that Taiwan people can feel the ease in cross-strait ties, and know that it is important for regional peace and stability. (dpa)