Taiwan party that won election wants USA help with China

MAC Deputy Minister Lin Chu-chia (林祖嘉) said Taiwan is always alert to China’s military preparedness and threats.

Ms Tsai and her DPP won presidential and parliamentary elections by a landslide on Saturday, prompting concern in Beijing that she may push for the island’s formal independence. But it’s not just the island-nation that is holding its breath in anticipation of change. On top of that, the Taiwanese people were angered by a video released hours before the election of a teenage pop star apologizing, under China’s pressure, for waving a Taiwanese flag.

“On such a major issue as safeguarding state sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese government has rock-solid determination and never tolerates any separatist activities aiming at ‘Taiwan independence, ‘” Hong continued.

Both President-elect Tsai Ing-wen and Beijing appear cautious about disrupting the rapprochement achieved under President Ma Ying-jeou, whose long-dominant Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) worked closely with the Chinese Communist Party during the past decade.

“There’s a tendency to think that Xi will have to find someone responsible (for the election result) in the Taiwan Affairs Office”. As a result, the voters disregarded these cautions, risked the economic benefits of a close relation with China and rooted decisively for the DPP, a party known for its pro-independence stance. This would be unfortunate as relations between Taiwan and China have improved significantly over the past decade when the two sides signed 23 agreements. Tsai has promised to move beyond the political division.

What contributed to the KMT’s expected defeat on January 16 was its lackluster, uninspiring presidential campaign. In fact, the vote could put relations on a more solid footing if both sides exercise moderation in the coming months.

Tsai’s aides have said the Kuomintang’s assets, valued at more than $760 million, were seized after World War II from Taiwan’s colonizer Japan, The Wall Street Journal reported.

She also did not reply to questions regarding whether she would ask People First Party Chairman James Soong to be premier, a suggestion made by former Executive Yuan Secretary-General Chen Chin-jun. The party has emerged as an unlikely star in the elections, with one of its candidates, heavy-metal musician Freddy Lim, winning a legislative seat. This time, however, the soft-spoken, awkward, policy wonk Tsai dominated.

Tsai has so far been vague about her views on ties with the mainland.

She does, however, face an uphill task of implementing the reforms she promised during her campaign.

Meanwhile, military drills were conducted by China on its coast. “We would certainly welcome steps that are taken on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to try to reduce tensions and improve cross-strait relations”. There has not been a hint of admiration or awe at the peaceful nature of the shift from Guomindang (Nationalist) rule to DPP rule, much less of respect for the rise of Tsai Ingwen.

For the first time, a woman, lawyer Dr. Tsai Ing-wen, won the presidency.

But she also vowed to make a comeback in the years that followed, largely because of her strong conviction that Taiwan needs a political opposition.

She may be unmarried – and resolutely declines to discuss her private life – but Ms Tsai is will enjoy her honeymoon period with the electorate.