Public of NATO countries: yes diplomacy and sanctions, no weapons and troops in case of Chinese attack on Taipei

Transatlantic Trends 2022 reveals results of survey conducted in 14 Atlantic Alliance member states. U.S. calls for tougher approach toward Beijing; Turks more dialogic. However, the survey was conducted before Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August.

Taipei (AsiaNews) - In the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, public opinion in 14 NATO countries prefers an Atlantic Alliance intervention with diplomatic means and sanctions against China, rather than sending weapons to the Taiwanese or troops. This was revealed in the Transatlantic Trends 2022 released this week by the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the German Bertelsmann Foundation.

The survey was conducted in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the UK and the US. 35% of respondents favor diplomatic action in the event of a crisis; 32% are for economic and financial sanctions. Only 4% would send arms to Taipei, while even fewer (2%) would be ready to deploy NATO troops in the conflict.

The U.S. public is the most inclined to send arms and soldiers, with the Turks more open to dialogue with the Chinese. Overall, the majority of respondents in the different states involved in the survey call for a tougher policy toward Beijing.

However, the results of the study, conducted between June and July, do not take into account the effects of the August visit to Taipei by Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, to which the Chinese responded with a prolonged series of military exercises. The island is regarded by Beijing as a "rebel" province to be recaptured even with the use of force.

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• reunification