Image: Reuters
In the latest developments in the Taiwanese political scenario, the island-country has begun voting for the forthcoming polls that possibly could see it’s first female leader and set an uncertain and undetermined course for future ties with its immediate neighbour, China.
China, on the other hand, sees the island as a ‘breakaway province,’ which it has supposedly threatened to take back forcefully, if the poiltics there seem to be attacking China in any way. If Tsai Ing-wen leads her opposition Democratic Progressive Party to power, it will be a huge victory for Taiwan’s pro-independence camp. Eric Chu will stand for the present party in power, the Kuomintang (KMT), which oversaw improved relations with its neighbour.
China is bound to be monitoring these presidential and parliamentary election results closely.
The polls come just months later a historic meet between the leaders of the two sides, the first in more than 60 years when outgoing KMT President Ma Ying-jeou met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Singapore, back in November, for talks that were seen as largely optimistic.
But it is the flagging economy as well as Taiwan’s relationship with China that are the pivotal issues for voters. It would be only the second-ever victory for the DPP if Ms Tsai, aged 59, emerges victorious.
Source: BBC.
Tags: Taiwan polls
