More Taiwanese believe it is unlikely that China will invade their country in the next five years, reports "Reuters", citing a survey by Taiwan's leading military think tank.
However, they consider Beijing a serious threat to the democratic island.
Over the past five years or so, China's military has significantly stepped up its activities around Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory despite strong objections from the government in Taipei, and has never shied away from using force to bring the island under its control.
p>
The survey of about 1,200 people last month by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research found that 61% of people thought it was "unlikely or very unlikely" China to attack Taiwan in the next five years.
"Most people don't think that China's territorial ambitions will manifest in the form of an attack on Taiwan," said Christina Chen, a researcher at the Institute.
The people of Taiwan are also worried about other Chinese threats, including military exercises and propaganda campaigns, she noted.
"Most people consider China's territorial ambitions a serious threat," Chen added.
The study contrasts with a warning from the head of the US Central Intelligence Agency, who said last year that Chinese President Xi Jinping had ordered his military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027.
"This means that the Taiwanese people are aware of the threat, but remain calm and reasonable with the expectation of an imminent war,", the Institute states.
More than 67% of respondents said they would retaliate if China attacked. However, they are almost evenly split on whether Taiwan's armed forces are capable of defending the island, with half expressing confidence in it and half not.
Lee Kuan-chen, another researcher at the Institute, said Taiwan's military must continue to enhance its defense capabilities to build public trust.
The survey also shows a split in opinion on whether the United States will help defend Taiwan.
About 74% think the US government is likely to help "indirectly" to Taiwan by providing food, medical supplies and weapons, and only 52% think the US military will send its armed forces to intervene.
Lee pointed out that Taiwan's government should be more transparent about security cooperation between Taiwan and the US.
"In this way, people will not have too high or too low expectations for the aid from the US,", he specified.
US President Joe Biden has angered the Chinese government with remarks suggesting the United States would defend Taiwan if it was attacked - a departure from the longstanding US stance of "strategic ambiguity".