A Chinese fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter&nbsp;violated Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone while a number of People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships&nbsp;sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, the Taiwanese defence ministry said. The developments occurred hours&nbsp;before Taiwanese President&nbsp;Tsai Ing-wen&nbsp;met US House speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles.&nbsp;

China's Shandong aircraft carrier sailed through Taiwan's southeastern waters on its way to the western Pacific, Taiwanese defence ministry said.

Tsai told reporters her government was committed to ensuring "the free and democratic way of life of the people of Taiwan" before she left Los Angeles where she was stopping on her way back from Latin America.

"We also hope to do our best to maintain peace and stability between the two sides," she added.

Beijing said on Friday that "Taiwan is an inseparable part of China", after repeatedly warning against the meeting.

"China's sovereignty and territorial integrity will never be divided," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing.

"The future of Taiwan lies in reunification with the motherland."

The cross-strait violation by the Chinese forces fall in line with a pattern Beijing has been adopting every time Taiwan is seen maintaining and strengthening its bilateral ties with the United States.&nbsp;

Since September 2020, when Taiwan began renewing its US outreach, China started regular incursions in self-ruled island's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) on a regular basis.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwans-extended-conscription-and-loss-of-face-for-xi-jinping-547113">Taiwan's extended conscription and 'loss of face' for Xi Jinping</a>

Meanwhile, China slapped sanctions on Taipei's de facto ambassador to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, banning her from entering China and accusing her of "deliberately inciting cross-strait confrontation".

Taiwan condemned the sanctions, saying Beijing was attempting to "further suppress our country's international space".

"Coercion and suppression will not change the objective facts, but will only strengthen our government's belief in upholding freedom and democracy," Taiwan's foreign office said in a statement.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;United States-China faceoff over Taiwan strait

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Beijing also announced sanctions against the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based conservative think tank, as well as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, which hosted the meeting.

The two organisations are now barred from engaging in transactions and cooperation with Chinese entities.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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A Chinese fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter violated Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone while a number of People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, the Taiwanese defence ministry said.

A Chinese fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter violated Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone while a number of People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, the Taiwanese defence ministry said. The developments occurred hours before Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met US House speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles. China's Shandong aircraft carrier sailed through Taiwan's southeastern waters on its way to the western Pacific, Taiwanese defence ministry said. Tsai told reporters her government was committed to ensuring "the free and democratic way of life of the people of Taiwan" before she left Los Angeles where she was stopping on her way back from Latin America. "We also hope to do our best to maintain peace and stability between the two sides," she added. Beijing said on Friday that "Taiwan is an inseparable part of China", after repeatedly warning against the meeting. "China's sovereignty and territorial integrity will never be divided," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing. "The future of Taiwan lies in reunification with the motherland." The cross-strait violation by the Chinese forces fall in line with a pattern Beijing has been adopting every time Taiwan is seen maintaining and strengthening its bilateral ties with the United States. Since September 2020, when Taiwan began renewing its US outreach, China started regular incursions in self-ruled island's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) on a regular basis. ALSO READ | Taiwan's extended conscription and 'loss of face' for Xi Jinping Meanwhile, China slapped sanctions on Taipei's de facto ambassador to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, banning her from entering China and accusing her of "deliberately inciting cross-strait confrontation". Taiwan condemned the sanctions, saying Beijing was attempting to "further suppress our country's international space". "Coercion and suppression will not change the objective facts, but will only strengthen our government's belief in upholding freedom and democracy," Taiwan's foreign office said in a statement. ALSO WATCH | United States-China faceoff over Taiwan strait × Beijing also announced sanctions against the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based conservative think tank, as well as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, which hosted the meeting. The two organisations are now barred from engaging in transactions and cooperation with Chinese entities. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Chinese warships, fighter jets encircled Taiwan before Tsai-McCarthy meet

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen stepped down from the post of ruling party chief on Saturday (November 26) after her party's poor performance in Taiwan's local elections.&nbsp;The president had projected local elections as being about showing defiance to China. The approach failed to resonate with the voters. Latest reports said that main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), bagged 13 of the 21 city mayor and county chief seats up for grabs, including the capital Taipei.

Turnout on Saturday was at record low, just 59% for Taiwan's six most important cities, compared to an overall figure of around 75% in 2020.

The elections for mayors, county chiefs and local councillors are ostensibly about domestic issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic and crime, and those elected will not have a direct say on China policy.

President Tsai had sought to project these elections as more than just a local vote. She had said that the world was watching at the elections as an example of how Taiwan defends its democracy.

China claims Taiwan to be its own territory and has not ruled out use of force to retake the self-governing island.

Both the DPP and KMT, which traditionally favours close ties with China though strongly denies being pro-Beijing, had concentrated their campaign efforts in wealthy and populous northern Taiwan, especially Taipei, whose mayor from the small Taiwan People's Party could not run again due to term limits.

"I have let everyone down," the DPP's Taipei mayor candidate Chen Shih-chung told supporters, adding he has offered his "sincere" congratulations to the KMT's Wayne Chiang in a telephone call, and urged people to continue to support Tsai.

"I know this election's results have greatly disappointed everyone, but we can't despair. In the past, the DPP has lost Taipei's elections many times, but we've never been defeated. We must wipe our tears and stand up again."

China carried out war games near Taiwan in August to express anger at a visit to Taipei by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and its military activities have continued, though on a reduced scale.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen stepped down from the post of ruling party chief on Saturday (November 26) after her party's poor performance in Taiwan's local elections.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen stepped down from the post of ruling party chief on Saturday (November 26) after her party's poor performance in Taiwan's local elections. The president had projected local elections as being about showing defiance to China. The approach failed to resonate with the voters. Latest reports said that main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), bagged 13 of the 21 city mayor and county chief seats up for grabs, including the capital Taipei. Turnout on Saturday was at record low, just 59% for Taiwan's six most important cities, compared to an overall figure of around 75% in 2020. The elections for mayors, county chiefs and local councillors are ostensibly about domestic issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic and crime, and those elected will not have a direct say on China policy. President Tsai had sought to project these elections as more than just a local vote. She had said that the world was watching at the elections as an example of how Taiwan defends its democracy. China claims Taiwan to be its own territory and has not ruled out use of force to retake the self-governing island. Both the DPP and KMT, which traditionally favours close ties with China though strongly denies being pro-Beijing, had concentrated their campaign efforts in wealthy and populous northern Taiwan, especially Taipei, whose mayor from the small Taiwan People's Party could not run again due to term limits. "I have let everyone down," the DPP's Taipei mayor candidate Chen Shih-chung told supporters, adding he has offered his "sincere" congratulations to the KMT's Wayne Chiang in a telephone call, and urged people to continue to support Tsai. "I know this election's results have greatly disappointed everyone, but we can't despair. In the past, the DPP has lost Taipei's elections many times, but we've never been defeated. We must wipe our tears and stand up again." China carried out war games near Taiwan in August to express anger at a visit to Taipei by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and its military activities have continued, though on a reduced scale. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen quits as ruling party chief after poor performance in local polls

Comparing Taiwanese independence to a ''charging rhino'' that must be stopped, China's foreign minister Wang Yi blamed the US for speeding it along.

Highlighting that the legislation under consideration by US lawmakers threatens the foundation of US-China ties, Wang said Beijing will not tolerate the Taiwanese independence bid.

Calling the ties between the US and China at a “low ebb,” Wang said voices advocating the independence of Taiwan have grown because of Washington's support.

During a speech at the Asia Society in New York, Wang said “We have always worked with the greatest sincerity and effort to pursue peaceful reunification, but we will never tolerate any activity aimed at secession.”

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The term “grey rhinos”, which includes shadow banking, property bubbles and local government debts, has been used by Chinese authorities in the past to refer to high-impact financial hazards that risk being overlooked.

Since US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August, relations between Beijing and Washington have deteriorated further.

Triggering the Chinese army’s most provocative drills around the islands in decades, it has heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

Saying a legal change is unnecessary because she already leads a sovereign nation, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s party has avoided overt moves toward a formal break.

With about a quarter supporting independence at some point, government surveys show that most Taiwanese residents prefer maintaining the status quo.

When asked if the US would defend Taiwan if it is invaded by China, President Joe Biden answered ''yes'' during an interview with “60 Minutes” that aired earlier this week.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Comparing Taiwanese independence to a ''charging rhino'' that must be stopped, China's foreign minister Wang Yi blamed the US for speeding it along. Highlighting that the legislation under consideration by US lawmakers threatens the foundation of US-China ties, Wang said Beijing will not tolerate the Taiwanese independence bid.

Comparing Taiwanese independence to a ''charging rhino'' that must be stopped, China's foreign minister Wang Yi blamed the US for speeding it along. Highlighting that the legislation under consideration by US lawmakers threatens the foundation of US-China ties, Wang said Beijing will not tolerate the Taiwanese independence bid. Calling the ties between the US and China at a “low ebb,” Wang said voices advocating the independence of Taiwan have grown because of Washington's support. During a speech at the Asia Society in New York, Wang said “We have always worked with the greatest sincerity and effort to pursue peaceful reunification, but we will never tolerate any activity aimed at secession.” × The term “grey rhinos”, which includes shadow banking, property bubbles and local government debts, has been used by Chinese authorities in the past to refer to high-impact financial hazards that risk being overlooked. Since US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August, relations between Beijing and Washington have deteriorated further. Triggering the Chinese army’s most provocative drills around the islands in decades, it has heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Saying a legal change is unnecessary because she already leads a sovereign nation, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s party has avoided overt moves toward a formal break. With about a quarter supporting independence at some point, government surveys show that most Taiwanese residents prefer maintaining the status quo. When asked if the US would defend Taiwan if it is invaded by China, President Joe Biden answered ''yes'' during an interview with “60 Minutes” that aired earlier this week. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

China compares Taiwanese independence bid to 'charging rhino' that must be stopped

The United States has a delegation comprising of former top US defense officials to Taiwan amid a looming threat from China.

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen is leading the five-person delegation that is to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and other top officials during the two-day visit.

Mullen, a retired Navy admiral who served as the top US military officer under former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, is being accompanied by Meghan O'Sullivan, a former deputy national security adviser under Bush, and Michele Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defense under Obama.

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Two former National Security Council senior directors for Asia, Mike Green and Evan Medeiros, are also on the trip, which is intended to "demonstrate our continued robust support for Taiwan."

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has drawn fresh attention to China’s threat to use force to annex self-governing democratic Taiwan, which it claims as its own territory.

Democratic Taiwan has watched the Ukraine situation closely as it lives under constant threat of a Chinese invasion, with Beijing claiming sovereignty over the island and vowing to seize it one day,&nbsp;by force, if necessary.

Washington diplomatically recognizes Beijing over Taipei but it is also bound by Congress to sell Taiwan weapons to defend itself.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/war-scenario-taiwan-conducts-air-drills-urban-warfare-simulation-amid-china-tensions-442589">Also see |&nbsp;War scenario: Taiwan conducts air drills, urban warfare simulation amid China tensions</a>

Tsai’s office said the delegation had been appointed by US&nbsp;President Joe Biden and the visit would permit “an in-depth exchange of views on Taiwan-US&nbsp;cooperation issues in various fields.”

Taiwan hopes the sides will “continue to deepen the steady development of Taiwan-US&nbsp;relations, continue to jointly maintain regional peace and stability, and continue to jointly contribute to global peace and prosperity,” it said in a statement.

The visit comes at a time when Taiwan has stepped up its alert level, wary of China taking advantage of a distracted West to move against it.

Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters earlier on Tuesday that the trip showed "the importance both of the Taiwan-US&nbsp;relationship and Taiwan's position" as well as the staunch US&nbsp;support for the island. "It's a very good thing," he added.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin dismissed the US delegation’s visit, saying it was “futile for the US&nbsp;to send anyone to demonstrate its so-called support for Taiwan.”

Wang told a daily briefing that China urges the US to honor past communiques signed with China, “stop all forms of official exchange with Taiwan, and handle Taiwan-related issues with caution so as to avoid further serious damage to the overall situation of China-US relations.”

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The United States has a delegation comprising of former top US defense officials to Taiwan amid a looming threat from China. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen is leading the five-person delegation that is to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and other top officials during the two-day visit.

The United States has a delegation comprising of former top US defense officials to Taiwan amid a looming threat from China. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen is leading the five-person delegation that is to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and other top officials during the two-day visit. Mullen, a retired Navy admiral who served as the top US military officer under former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, is being accompanied by Meghan O'Sullivan, a former deputy national security adviser under Bush, and Michele Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defense under Obama. Two former National Security Council senior directors for Asia, Mike Green and Evan Medeiros, are also on the trip, which is intended to "demonstrate our continued robust support for Taiwan." Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has drawn fresh attention to China’s threat to use force to annex self-governing democratic Taiwan, which it claims as its own territory. Democratic Taiwan has watched the Ukraine situation closely as it lives under constant threat of a Chinese invasion, with Beijing claiming sovereignty over the island and vowing to seize it one day, by force, if necessary. Washington diplomatically recognizes Beijing over Taipei but it is also bound by Congress to sell Taiwan weapons to defend itself. Also see | War scenario: Taiwan conducts air drills, urban warfare simulation amid China tensions Tsai’s office said the delegation had been appointed by US President Joe Biden and the visit would permit “an in-depth exchange of views on Taiwan-US cooperation issues in various fields.” Taiwan hopes the sides will “continue to deepen the steady development of Taiwan-US relations, continue to jointly maintain regional peace and stability, and continue to jointly contribute to global peace and prosperity,” it said in a statement. The visit comes at a time when Taiwan has stepped up its alert level, wary of China taking advantage of a distracted West to move against it. Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters earlier on Tuesday that the trip showed "the importance both of the Taiwan-US relationship and Taiwan's position" as well as the staunch US support for the island. "It's a very good thing," he added. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin dismissed the US delegation’s visit, saying it was “futile for the US to send anyone to demonstrate its so-called support for Taiwan.” Wang told a daily briefing that China urges the US to honor past communiques signed with China, “stop all forms of official exchange with Taiwan, and handle Taiwan-related issues with caution so as to avoid further serious damage to the overall situation of China-US relations.” (With inputs from agencies)

United States sends delegation to Taiwan amid ‘invasion’ fears

Taiwan President&nbsp;Tsai&nbsp;Ing-wen on Tuesday told China&nbsp;to ''back-off'' after the rise in&nbsp;airspace ''incursion'' by the Chinese jets.

Tension between China and the democratic island Beijing&nbsp;claims as sovereign Chinese territory have spiked to their highest in years, with Taiwanese fighters jets scrambling&nbsp;to intercept the Chinese aircraft last week.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-scrambles-fighters-for-fourth-time-in-five-days-amid-chinese-incursion-329291" hreflang="en">Taiwan scrambles fighters for fourth time in five days amid Chinese incursion</a>

Visiting&nbsp;a major air force base on Penghu in the sensitive Taiwan Strait that divides the two sides,&nbsp;Tsai&nbsp;told pilots and engineers she was aware of their "heroic performance" when intercepting&nbsp;and driving&nbsp;away Chinese aircraft.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Taiwan’s Air Force does not give in to threats or military provocation. Our men and women in uniform have the will &amp; ability to defend <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Taiwan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Taiwan</a> &amp; are not intimidated by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PRC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PRC</a> intrusions in our airspace. We are dedicated to maintaining peace &amp; stability in the region. <a href="https://t.co/71JsvhR6YE">pic.twitter.com/71JsvhR6YE</a>
— 蔡英文 Tsai Ing-wen (@iingwen) <a href="https://twitter.com/iingwen/status/1308349799469514753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"I have a lot of confidence in you. As soldiers of the Republic of China, how could we let enemies strut around in our own airspace?" she said, using&nbsp;Taiwan's formal name.

"I'm aware that facing&nbsp;the provocative behaviour of the communist planes that have encircled the island and damaged regional peace in recent days, your duty at the front line of the airspace in Penghu must be even heavier."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/set-off-war-china-threatens-retaliation-after-us-diplomats-visit-to-taiwan-329155/amp">'Set off war': China threatens retaliation after US diplomat's visit to Taiwan</a>

<ul>
</ul>

The base, now home to F-CK-1 Ching-kuo Indigenous Defence Fighters (IDF) which first entered service in 1997, is at the front line of Taiwan's response to Chinese military intrusions.

Wang Chia-chu, one of the senior officers of the "Heavenly Colt" IDF squadron, said there is just five minutes' time to scramble fighters once Chinese aircraft are spotted.

"We will defend our airspace in real time as long as there's a threat," Wang said.

Another senior officer, speaking&nbsp;on condition of anonymity, said the Penghu-based IDFs are now scrambling&nbsp;"almost every day" as tension run high.

The air force also put on display its new Wan Chien air-to-ground cruise missiles that entered service in 2018 and can be fired from IDFs at targets about 200 km (125 miles) away, putting&nbsp;Chinese facilities or approaching&nbsp;ships in their sights.

Separately, Defence Minister Yen Teh-fa oversaw drills simulating&nbsp;a response to an air attack, involving&nbsp;all Taiwan's air bases as well as naval and surface-to-air missile units, the ministry said.

"The enemy threat grows by the day," it cited Yen as saying. "On no account allow the enemy to step out of line, and defend the country's sovereignty, democracy and freedom."

Crossing the mid line

Unusually, Chinese aircraft last week breached the mid line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial barrier for combat aircraft of both sides, though they have not flown over mainland Taiwan.

On Monday, China's foreign ministry said the line did not exist, drawing&nbsp;condemnation from Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.

In Taipei on Tuesday, Wu called the line an important "symbol" for avoiding&nbsp;military clashes.

"We demand the international community strongly condemns China's words and actions and demand the Chinese government stops everything&nbsp;that it has been doing," he added.

China has been angered by stepped-up US&nbsp;support for democratic Taiwan, including&nbsp;a visit to Taipei last week by US&nbsp;Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Keith Krach.

Taiwanese fighters have scrambled many times this year to intercept Chinese aircraft.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday told China to ''back-off'' after the rise in airspace ''incursion'' by the Chinese jets. Tension between China and the democratic island Beijing claims as sovereign Chinese territory have spiked to their highest in years, with Taiwanese fighters jets scrambling to intercept the Chinese aircraft last week.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday told China to ''back-off'' after the rise in airspace ''incursion'' by the Chinese jets. Tension between China and the democratic island Beijing claims as sovereign Chinese territory have spiked to their highest in years, with Taiwanese fighters jets scrambling to intercept the Chinese aircraft last week. Also read: Taiwan scrambles fighters for fourth time in five days amid Chinese incursion Visiting a major air force base on Penghu in the sensitive Taiwan Strait that divides the two sides, Tsai told pilots and engineers she was aware of their "heroic performance" when intercepting and driving away Chinese aircraft. Taiwan’s Air Force does not give in to threats or military provocation. Our men and women in uniform have the will & ability to defend #Taiwan & are not intimidated by #PRC intrusions in our airspace. We are dedicated to maintaining peace & stability in the region. pic.twitter.com/71JsvhR6YE — 蔡英文 Tsai Ing-wen (@iingwen) September 22, 2020 × "I have a lot of confidence in you. As soldiers of the Republic of China, how could we let enemies strut around in our own airspace?" she said, using Taiwan's formal name. "I'm aware that facing the provocative behaviour of the communist planes that have encircled the island and damaged regional peace in recent days, your duty at the front line of the airspace in Penghu must be even heavier." Also read: 'Set off war': China threatens retaliation after US diplomat's visit to Taiwan The base, now home to F-CK-1 Ching-kuo Indigenous Defence Fighters (IDF) which first entered service in 1997, is at the front line of Taiwan's response to Chinese military intrusions. Wang Chia-chu, one of the senior officers of the "Heavenly Colt" IDF squadron, said there is just five minutes' time to scramble fighters once Chinese aircraft are spotted. "We will defend our airspace in real time as long as there's a threat," Wang said. Another senior officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Penghu-based IDFs are now scrambling "almost every day" as tension run high. The air force also put on display its new Wan Chien air-to-ground cruise missiles that entered service in 2018 and can be fired from IDFs at targets about 200 km (125 miles) away, putting Chinese facilities or approaching ships in their sights. Separately, Defence Minister Yen Teh-fa oversaw drills simulating a response to an air attack, involving all Taiwan's air bases as well as naval and surface-to-air missile units, the ministry said. "The enemy threat grows by the day," it cited Yen as saying. "On no account allow the enemy to step out of line, and defend the country's sovereignty, democracy and freedom." Crossing the mid line Unusually, Chinese aircraft last week breached the mid line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial barrier for combat aircraft of both sides, though they have not flown over mainland Taiwan. On Monday, China's foreign ministry said the line did not exist, drawing condemnation from Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. In Taipei on Tuesday, Wu called the line an important "symbol" for avoiding military clashes. "We demand the international community strongly condemns China's words and actions and demand the Chinese government stops everything that it has been doing," he added. China has been angered by stepped-up US support for democratic Taiwan, including a visit to Taipei last week by US Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Keith Krach. Taiwanese fighters have scrambled many times this year to intercept Chinese aircraft.

Taiwan tells China to 'back-off' as airspace 'incursions' rise

China ramped up its rhetoric over Taiwan on Monday, describing any support for its independence as "doomed to fail", and threatened retaliation against US diplomatic visits to the island.

Taiwan has been ruled separately from China since the end of a civil war in 1949, but Beijing considers the island part of its territory awaiting reunification.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/real-possibility-of-war-taiwan-calls-for-global-coalition-against-china-328167">'Real possibility of war': Taiwan calls for global coalition against China</a>

The island is a flashpoint with Washington, which promises military support to the elected government and has sent two envoys to Taipei in as many months.

At a press briefing Monday, the foreign ministry said that the envoys' visits were a "political provocation" and threatened retaliation.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-military-says-it-has-right-to-counter-attack-amid-china-threats-329089" hreflang="en">Taiwan military says it has right to counter attack amid China threats</a>

"China will take appropriate countermeasures, including targeting relevant individuals," said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, without elaborating. He warned that the US actions will "further damage the cooperation" between the US and China.

Wang added that any support for Taiwan's independence is a "dead end... doomed to fail".

Taiwan on Monday responded to China's threat to "set off war",&nbsp;following the visit of a US State Department official, which apparently irked Beijing.

"How do you deal with a neighbor sending you death threats just for having dinner with friends visiting from afar? Asking for a friend," said Taiwan Presidential Office Spokesperson.

This statement followed the threat issued by the Chinese mouthpiece Global Times after US Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Keith Krach had visited the nation.

"Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen, who pledged deeper ties with the US at a dinner for a visiting senior State Department official, is clearly playing with fire. If any act of her provocation violates the Anti-Secession Law of China, a war will be set off and Tsai will be wiped out," wrote Global Times.

Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing in 1979.

Beijing rejects any recognition of Taiwan and has mounted a decades-long policy of marginalising the democratic island.

Washington's increased outreach to Taiwan under President Donald Trump is among a catalogue of sore points with Beijing as the countries clash over issues including trade, security and the coronavirus pandemic.

The US Undersecretary of State for economic growth, energy and the environment Keith Krach wrapped up a trip to Taiwan at the weekend, following on the heels of a trip by US health chief Alex Azar in August.

Last Friday, Taiwan scrambled fighter jets as the Chinese military conducted exercises near the Taiwan Strait during Krach's visit.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused China of "military blustering".

China ramped up its rhetoric over Taiwan on Monday, describing any support for its independence as "doomed to fail", and threatened retaliation against US diplomatic visits to the island.

China ramped up its rhetoric over Taiwan on Monday, describing any support for its independence as "doomed to fail", and threatened retaliation against US diplomatic visits to the island. Taiwan has been ruled separately from China since the end of a civil war in 1949, but Beijing considers the island part of its territory awaiting reunification. Also read: 'Real possibility of war': Taiwan calls for global coalition against China The island is a flashpoint with Washington, which promises military support to the elected government and has sent two envoys to Taipei in as many months. At a press briefing Monday, the foreign ministry said that the envoys' visits were a "political provocation" and threatened retaliation. Also read: Taiwan military says it has right to counter attack amid China threats "China will take appropriate countermeasures, including targeting relevant individuals," said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, without elaborating. He warned that the US actions will "further damage the cooperation" between the US and China. Wang added that any support for Taiwan's independence is a "dead end... doomed to fail". Taiwan on Monday responded to China's threat to "set off war", following the visit of a US State Department official, which apparently irked Beijing. "How do you deal with a neighbor sending you death threats just for having dinner with friends visiting from afar? Asking for a friend," said Taiwan Presidential Office Spokesperson. This statement followed the threat issued by the Chinese mouthpiece Global Times after US Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Keith Krach had visited the nation. "Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen, who pledged deeper ties with the US at a dinner for a visiting senior State Department official, is clearly playing with fire. If any act of her provocation violates the Anti-Secession Law of China, a war will be set off and Tsai will be wiped out," wrote Global Times. Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing in 1979. Beijing rejects any recognition of Taiwan and has mounted a decades-long policy of marginalising the democratic island. Washington's increased outreach to Taiwan under President Donald Trump is among a catalogue of sore points with Beijing as the countries clash over issues including trade, security and the coronavirus pandemic. The US Undersecretary of State for economic growth, energy and the environment Keith Krach wrapped up a trip to Taiwan at the weekend, following on the heels of a trip by US health chief Alex Azar in August. Last Friday, Taiwan scrambled fighter jets as the Chinese military conducted exercises near the Taiwan Strait during Krach's visit. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused China of "military blustering".

'Set off war': China threatens retaliation after US diplomat's visit to Taiwan

Taiwan&nbsp;President Tsai Ing-wen called on Tuesday for an&nbsp;alliance&nbsp;of democracies to defend&nbsp;against&nbsp;"aggressive actions" and protect freedom, alluding to Chinese actions in the South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea and&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;Strait as major threats to regional stability.

China, which claims democratic&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;as its own, has ramped up its military activities around the island, as well as in the disputed East and South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Seas.

Speaking in Taipei at a forum attended by top&nbsp;Taiwanese security officials and senior Western diplomats, Tsai said&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;stood at the forefront of defending democracy from "authoritarian aggression".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-accuses-china-of-threatening-and-harassing-foreign-journalists-325905" hreflang="en">US accuses China of 'threatening' and 'harassing' foreign journalists</a>

While&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;is committed to boosting its defensive capabilities, maintaining regional peace and security needs collaborative efforts, she added.

"The rapid militarisation of the South&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea, increasing and frequent grey-zone tactics in the&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;Strait and East&nbsp;China&nbsp;Sea, coercive diplomacy used&nbsp;against&nbsp;countries and corporations...are all destabilising the Indo-Pacific region," Tsai said, without directly naming&nbsp;China.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-handled-covid-19-openly-and-transparently-xi-jinping-325898" hreflang="en">China handled COVID-19 openly and transparently: Xi Jinping</a>

"It is time for like-minded countries, and democratic friends in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, to discuss a framework to generate sustained and concerted efforts to maintain a strategic order that deters unilateral aggressive actions."

She called for a strategy that avoided war, yet conveyed the resolve to protect democracies by encouraging cooperation, transparency and problem-solving through dialogue.

China&nbsp;has stepped up pressure on&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;to accept its sovereignty over the island, which has responded by seeking closer ties with what it calls "like-minded" democracies.

This is primarily the United States, but also includes Australia, Britain, Canada, the European Union and Japan, none of which maintain formal diplomatic ties with&nbsp;Taiwan.

Apart from the United States,&nbsp;Taiwan's main arms supplier, the other nations generally only offer occasional moral support, such as calling for the World Health Organization to grant proper access to non-member&nbsp;Taiwan.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called on Tuesday for an alliance of democracies to defend against "aggressive actions" and protect freedom, alluding to Chinese actions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait as major threats to regional stability.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called on Tuesday for an alliance of democracies to defend against "aggressive actions" and protect freedom, alluding to Chinese actions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait as major threats to regional stability. China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own, has ramped up its military activities around the island, as well as in the disputed East and South China Seas. Speaking in Taipei at a forum attended by top Taiwanese security officials and senior Western diplomats, Tsai said Taiwan stood at the forefront of defending democracy from "authoritarian aggression". Also read: US accuses China of 'threatening' and 'harassing' foreign journalists While Taiwan is committed to boosting its defensive capabilities, maintaining regional peace and security needs collaborative efforts, she added. "The rapid militarisation of the South China Sea, increasing and frequent grey-zone tactics in the Taiwan Strait and East China Sea, coercive diplomacy used against countries and corporations...are all destabilising the Indo-Pacific region," Tsai said, without directly naming China. Also read: China handled COVID-19 openly and transparently: Xi Jinping "It is time for like-minded countries, and democratic friends in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, to discuss a framework to generate sustained and concerted efforts to maintain a strategic order that deters unilateral aggressive actions." She called for a strategy that avoided war, yet conveyed the resolve to protect democracies by encouraging cooperation, transparency and problem-solving through dialogue. China has stepped up pressure on Taiwan to accept its sovereignty over the island, which has responded by seeking closer ties with what it calls "like-minded" democracies. This is primarily the United States, but also includes Australia, Britain, Canada, the European Union and Japan, none of which maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Apart from the United States, Taiwan's main arms supplier, the other nations generally only offer occasional moral support, such as calling for the World Health Organization to grant proper access to non-member Taiwan.

Taiwan urges alliance against 'aggressive actions' to curb China's intrusion

The opposition party in Taiwan demanded clarification on Monday on US envoy's pronunciation, which appeared to wrongly spell the name of the president, which sounded closer to her arch-rival Chinese counterpart.

US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar met President Tsai Ing-wen earlier on Monday and in his opening statement pronounced the name as "shee", which is how Chinese President Xi Jinping's name is spelt, instead of "ts-eye".&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-jets-spotted-in-taiwan-strait-during-us-health-chief-visit-319442">Chinese jets spotted in Taiwan Strait during US health chief visit</a>

However, a few sentences later, Azar corrected himself and pronounced President Tsai's as it is generally is spoken.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ongoing-historic-visit-to-taiwan-a-true-honour-for-trump-administration-319305">Ongoing historic visit to Taiwan a 'true honour' for Trump administration</a>

For opposition Kuomintang party (KMT), the glitch came as a "shock and disapproval" as they demanded clarification from the US.&nbsp;

"The KMT expresses shock and disapproval while urging the presidential office to sternly protest to the US side and clarify that the president of the Republic of China is surnamed Tsai, not Xi," said KMT in a statement.

However, Taiwan president brushed aside the opposition party's demand.

"There is no doubt Secretary Azar was addressing (her) as President Tsai," said Xavier Chang, Tsai's spokesman, in a statement.

"We suggest all sides to focus on (Taiwan's) diplomatic accomplishments and anti-pandemic cooperation. Closer Taiwan-US relations is the joint fruit of the efforts made by all people."

Tsai's party is at loggerheads with the Chinese administration, which is based on the autonomy of Taiwan, which Beijing considers as its own territory.&nbsp;

Also, US health secretary's visit to Taiwan has already raised eyebrows in China as for long several countries refused to consider Taiwan as an independent country separate from mainland China.&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP)

The opposition party in Taiwan demanded clarification on Monday on US envoy's pronunciation, which appeared to wrongly spell the name of the president, which sounded closer to her arch-rival Chinese counterpart.

The opposition party in Taiwan demanded clarification on Monday on US envoy's pronunciation, which appeared to wrongly spell the name of the president, which sounded closer to her arch-rival Chinese counterpart. US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar met President Tsai Ing-wen earlier on Monday and in his opening statement pronounced the name as "shee", which is how Chinese President Xi Jinping's name is spelt, instead of "ts-eye". Also read | Chinese jets spotted in Taiwan Strait during US health chief visit However, a few sentences later, Azar corrected himself and pronounced President Tsai's as it is generally is spoken. Also read | Ongoing historic visit to Taiwan a 'true honour' for Trump administration For opposition Kuomintang party (KMT), the glitch came as a "shock and disapproval" as they demanded clarification from the US. "The KMT expresses shock and disapproval while urging the presidential office to sternly protest to the US side and clarify that the president of the Republic of China is surnamed Tsai, not Xi," said KMT in a statement. However, Taiwan president brushed aside the opposition party's demand. "There is no doubt Secretary Azar was addressing (her) as President Tsai," said Xavier Chang, Tsai's spokesman, in a statement. "We suggest all sides to focus on (Taiwan's) diplomatic accomplishments and anti-pandemic cooperation. Closer Taiwan-US relations is the joint fruit of the efforts made by all people." Tsai's party is at loggerheads with the Chinese administration, which is based on the autonomy of Taiwan, which Beijing considers as its own territory. Also, US health secretary's visit to Taiwan has already raised eyebrows in China as for long several countries refused to consider Taiwan as an independent country separate from mainland China. (With inputs from AFP)

Taiwan: Opposition party demands clarification of US envoy spelling President Tsai as 'Xi'

Taiwan's parliament on Monday witnessed vandalism and fighting after the opposition members occupied it in protest of what it called government "tyranny".&nbsp;

Over 20 lawmakers of main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) occupied the legislature overnight on Monday, installing chains and chairs to block entry to the main chamber.&nbsp;

<img alt="Taiwan parliament" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="84216234-cee2-4903-a479-25d975269e9a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_137.jpg" />

(Lawmakers from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) scuffle with lawmakers from the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, who have been occupying the Legislature Yuan | Photo Credit: Reuters)

The opposition members said that the government was trying to force through legislation and demanded the president to withdraw the nomination of her close aide to a top-level watchdog.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lgbtq-pride-month-events-go-online-to-mark-50th-anniversary-taiwan-holds-march-309170">LGBTQ Pride Month events go online to mark 50th anniversary; Taiwan holds march</a>

The members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Monday morning removed the barricades and forced their way in.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-to-let-hong-kongers-in-on-humanitarian-grounds-beginning-july-1-the-same-day-hk-was-returned-to-china-308311">Taiwan to let Hong Kongers in on 'humanitarian' grounds beginning July 1 - the same day HK was returned to China</a>

There was a lot of scuffles and shouting between KMT and DPP lawmakers, however, KMT eventually withdrew the struggle, denouncing the violence used against them by the ruling party.&nbsp;

KMT, which favours close ties with China, said it was protesting against the government and President Tsai Ing-wen for forcing through bills.&nbsp;

They also opposed Tsai's nomination of her senior aide Chen Chu to head the Control Yuan, an independent government watchdog, describing the government "more tyrannical than before".

Protests and fights in Taiwan, which China considers its own territory, inside the parliament is quite common and in 2014 hundreds of students occupied parliament for weeks in protests, which were famously known as Sunflower Movement.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)

Taiwan's parliament on Monday witnessed vandalism and fighting after the opposition members occupied it in protest of what it called government "tyranny". Over 20 lawmakers of main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) occupied the legislature overnight on Monday, installing chains and chairs to block entry to the main chamber.

Taiwan's parliament on Monday witnessed vandalism and fighting after the opposition members occupied it in protest of what it called government "tyranny". Over 20 lawmakers of main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) occupied the legislature overnight on Monday, installing chains and chairs to block entry to the main chamber. (Lawmakers from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) scuffle with lawmakers from the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, who have been occupying the Legislature Yuan | Photo Credit: Reuters) The opposition members said that the government was trying to force through legislation and demanded the president to withdraw the nomination of her close aide to a top-level watchdog. Also read | LGBTQ Pride Month events go online to mark 50th anniversary; Taiwan holds march The members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Monday morning removed the barricades and forced their way in. Also read | Taiwan to let Hong Kongers in on 'humanitarian' grounds beginning July 1 - the same day HK was returned to China There was a lot of scuffles and shouting between KMT and DPP lawmakers, however, KMT eventually withdrew the struggle, denouncing the violence used against them by the ruling party. KMT, which favours close ties with China, said it was protesting against the government and President Tsai Ing-wen for forcing through bills. They also opposed Tsai's nomination of her senior aide Chen Chu to head the Control Yuan, an independent government watchdog, describing the government "more tyrannical than before". Protests and fights in Taiwan, which China considers its own territory, inside the parliament is quite common and in 2014 hundreds of students occupied parliament for weeks in protests, which were famously known as Sunflower Movement. (With inputs from Reuters)

Fighting, vandalism in Taiwan after Opposition occupies Parliament

By Niki J P Alsford

The re-election of Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen is a remarkable moment for global progressive politics in the face of continued populism, fake news and voter manipulation. Tsai, of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won the January 11 poll with just over 8 million votes – 57.1 per cent of the total – the highest total number of votes in Taiwan’s democratic history. Following a bitter electoral campaign marred by sexism, misinformation and cyberbullying, it was a resounding victory.

In the Legislative Yuan – Taiwan’s parliament – the DPP won 61 of the 113 seats, a drop of seven seats from the 2016 election but a majority of four seats. Tsai’s main rival, Han Kuo-yu, took 38.6 per cent&nbsp;of the vote in the presidential election and his party, the Kuomintang (KMT), won 38 seats in the Legislative Yuan – gaining three seats.

With Tsai representing those who want to distance Taiwan from China, much of the analysis of the result has been on the “China factor” and the rebuke to Beijing that her victory represents. But as my own research on Taiwanese history and society stresses, it’s an injustice to Taiwan to always focus on a top-down, China-centric perspective.

The DPP is a centre-left party, which introduced same-sex marriage in Taiwan in 2019, and is a long-term member of Liberal International, a worldwide federation of progressive democratic parties. Tsai’s victory, against a new form of populism pushed by Han, is a significant one for the island and emphasises how much Taiwanese people cherish their free and democratic way of life.

Blue wall remains

Tsai’s success was due in part to a refusal by many Taiwanese to vote for Han as president. Most voters have two ballots, one for their local district candidate and the other for a party list. Of the 113 seats in parliament, 73 represent local constituencies and 34 are allocated from the party-list vote. A further six seats are reserved for Taiwan’s indigenous population – elected via an extra single transferable vote for people with indigenous status.

For the 2020 party-list vote, the DPP took 33.9 per cent, while the KMT took 33.3 per cent, with a number of smaller other parties picking up the other third. Since Tsai’s personal vote was so much more decisive, it suggests that many who voted for her in the presidential election voted for other parties in the party list vote.

A closer look at the new political map of Taiwan for both the presidential and parliamentary votes reveals there is still a clear blue wall – a reference to the blue colour of the China-leaning parties – extending across the centre and down the east coast.

Indigenous votes

Taiwan’s indigenous peoples make up 2.38 per cent of the island’s population. Their ancestry predates the majority settler Han Chinese communities that began arriving from the 17th century.

The KMT has long relied on the indigenous vote, due to a combination of identity politics and entrenched community service centres in indigenous areas. The foundation of these are the fuwuzhan, a type of centre established to provide essentials such as oil and rice to indigenous communities, established by the KMT under martial law when Taiwan was ruled by an authoritarian one-party system between 1949 and 1987.

Since 2008, when the DPP lost the presidential election, the party began to establish its own fuwuzhan, but the 64 it has are dwarfed by the 383 KMT-led ones, according to official figures.

In the 2020 election, the KMT won three of the six indigenous seats, the DPP two – gaining one seat – and one went to an independent candidate. Not only is indigenous culture essential in Taiwan’s shift away from its sino-centric history, the reserved seat system for indigenous people can also play a pivotal role in the overall result, due to the lower voter threshold. The fact that the DPP won an extra seat demonstrated a potential shift away from the traditional “iron vote” of indigenous people for the KMT.

Future for the KMT and DPP 
 
Questions surrounding the future of the KMT will undoubtedly be raised by their second successive election defeat on a ticket campaigning for closer relations to China. That said, 5 million voters still supported Han and his populist pro-China stance – a significant bloc of voters which both the KMT and DPP must pay attention to.

After losing the 2016 and now the 2020 elections, the KMT appear rudderless. To win back power, they will need a charismatic character like Ma Ying-jeou, their former president. Although Ma had an appalling approval rating towards the end of his tenure, he won 58.5 per cent&nbsp;of the vote in 2008 and 51.6 per cent&nbsp;in 2012.

A potential future leader for the KMT might be Chiang Wan-an, great-grandson of former Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek, who was re-elected for Taipei City District 3. As presidential candidate, Han had moved the KMT both towards the right of the political spectrum, and further towards China. But Chiang’s credentials could see the KMT shift back to the more pragmatic engagement with China that it had in the past as a way to win back electoral support.

In her 2020 new year speech, Tsai emphasised that Taiwan is not willing to accept the “one country, two systems” relationship with China – a reference to the system currently in place in Hong Kong. The election result proves her point. As the global gaze falls upon Taiwan, it’s up to Tsai and her government to keep repeating this message.

(Niki J P Alsford is Professor in Asia Pacific Studies, Director of the Asia Pacific Studies Institutes, University of Central Lancashire)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/taiwan-what-election-victory-for-tsai-ing-wen-means-for-the-islands-future-129802">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

By Niki J P Alsford The re-election of Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen is a remarkable moment for global progressive politics in the face of continued populism, fake news and voter manipulation.

By Niki J P Alsford The re-election of Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen is a remarkable moment for global progressive politics in the face of continued populism, fake news and voter manipulation. Tsai, of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won the January 11 poll with just over 8 million votes – 57.1 per cent of the total – the highest total number of votes in Taiwan’s democratic history. Following a bitter electoral campaign marred by sexism, misinformation and cyberbullying, it was a resounding victory. In the Legislative Yuan – Taiwan’s parliament – the DPP won 61 of the 113 seats, a drop of seven seats from the 2016 election but a majority of four seats. Tsai’s main rival, Han Kuo-yu, took 38.6 per cent of the vote in the presidential election and his party, the Kuomintang (KMT), won 38 seats in the Legislative Yuan – gaining three seats. With Tsai representing those who want to distance Taiwan from China, much of the analysis of the result has been on the “China factor” and the rebuke to Beijing that her victory represents. But as my own research on Taiwanese history and society stresses, it’s an injustice to Taiwan to always focus on a top-down, China-centric perspective. The DPP is a centre-left party, which introduced same-sex marriage in Taiwan in 2019, and is a long-term member of Liberal International, a worldwide federation of progressive democratic parties. Tsai’s victory, against a new form of populism pushed by Han, is a significant one for the island and emphasises how much Taiwanese people cherish their free and democratic way of life. Blue wall remains Tsai’s success was due in part to a refusal by many Taiwanese to vote for Han as president. Most voters have two ballots, one for their local district candidate and the other for a party list. Of the 113 seats in parliament, 73 represent local constituencies and 34 are allocated from the party-list vote. A further six seats are reserved for Taiwan’s indigenous population – elected via an extra single transferable vote for people with indigenous status. For the 2020 party-list vote, the DPP took 33.9 per cent, while the KMT took 33.3 per cent, with a number of smaller other parties picking up the other third. Since Tsai’s personal vote was so much more decisive, it suggests that many who voted for her in the presidential election voted for other parties in the party list vote. A closer look at the new political map of Taiwan for both the presidential and parliamentary votes reveals there is still a clear blue wall – a reference to the blue colour of the China-leaning parties – extending across the centre and down the east coast. Indigenous votes Taiwan’s indigenous peoples make up 2.38 per cent of the island’s population. Their ancestry predates the majority settler Han Chinese communities that began arriving from the 17th century. The KMT has long relied on the indigenous vote, due to a combination of identity politics and entrenched community service centres in indigenous areas. The foundation of these are the fuwuzhan, a type of centre established to provide essentials such as oil and rice to indigenous communities, established by the KMT under martial law when Taiwan was ruled by an authoritarian one-party system between 1949 and 1987. Since 2008, when the DPP lost the presidential election, the party began to establish its own fuwuzhan, but the 64 it has are dwarfed by the 383 KMT-led ones, according to official figures. In the 2020 election, the KMT won three of the six indigenous seats, the DPP two – gaining one seat – and one went to an independent candidate. Not only is indigenous culture essential in Taiwan’s shift away from its sino-centric history, the reserved seat system for indigenous people can also play a pivotal role in the overall result, due to the lower voter threshold. The fact that the DPP won an extra seat demonstrated a potential shift away from the traditional “iron vote” of indigenous people for the KMT. Future for the KMT and DPP Questions surrounding the future of the KMT will undoubtedly be raised by their second successive election defeat on a ticket campaigning for closer relations to China. That said, 5 million voters still supported Han and his populist pro-China stance – a significant bloc of voters which both the KMT and DPP must pay attention to. After losing the 2016 and now the 2020 elections, the KMT appear rudderless. To win back power, they will need a charismatic character like Ma Ying-jeou, their former president. Although Ma had an appalling approval rating towards the end of his tenure, he won 58.5 per cent of the vote in 2008 and 51.6 per cent in 2012. A potential future leader for the KMT might be Chiang Wan-an, great-grandson of former Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek, who was re-elected for Taipei City District 3. As presidential candidate, Han had moved the KMT both towards the right of the political spectrum, and further towards China. But Chiang’s credentials could see the KMT shift back to the more pragmatic engagement with China that it had in the past as a way to win back electoral support. In her 2020 new year speech, Tsai emphasised that Taiwan is not willing to accept the “one country, two systems” relationship with China – a reference to the system currently in place in Hong Kong. The election result proves her point. As the global gaze falls upon Taiwan, it’s up to Tsai and her government to keep repeating this message. (Niki J P Alsford is Professor in Asia Pacific Studies, Director of the Asia Pacific Studies Institutes, University of Central Lancashire) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Taiwan elections: What does Tsai Ing-wen's victory mean for island's future

On Saturday, people in Taiwan will cast their vote in the much-anticipated presidential elections. The incumbent president Tsai Ing-wen will seek re-election and his main challenger will be China-friendly&nbsp;Han Kuo-yu.&nbsp;

More than 19.3 million people will be eligible for the polls, out of which 3.1 million are below 30 years old, and 1.81 million will cast their first vote on Saturday, as per official figures.&nbsp;

<img alt="Tsai Ing-wen" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="679cb7a0-9e1c-4d1e-9e23-8f12cb1efd39" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/zpMkyfHS.jpg" />

[Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (Photo Credit: AFP)]

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwans-china-friendly-presidential-hopeful-faces-backlash-in-divided-south-273096">Taiwan's China-friendly presidential hopeful faces backlash in divided south</a>

China considers Taiwan as part of its territory which can be taken by force if required.&nbsp;

Tsai is seen as the frontrunner in the upcoming elections and youngsters are likely to back him due to her progressive leanings and suspicion to Chinese activities.&nbsp;

<img alt="Han Kyo-yu" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8c9da667-a0a1-4e97-911a-b7a9343110f7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/UrrzVadY.jpg" />

[Presidential candidate&nbsp;Han Kuo-yu&nbsp;(Photo Credit: AFP)]

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-to-vote-in-shadow-of-china-pressure-hong-kong-protests-272816">Taiwan to vote in shadow of China pressure, Hong Kong protests</a>

Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019 after Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) gave a green signal to it. &nbsp;

DPP views itself as a party that protects democratic values against Beijing's authoritarianism.&nbsp;

Han is the leader of Kuomintang Party who is in favour of closer ties with China. He also made a high-profile visit to China and Hong Kong in March last year and reitarated his commitment to "one China". &nbsp;

"Every Taiwan leader needs to find a balance between the US and China, but with Han, he has completely shifted towards China," said Aaron Yin, one of the leaders of a protest movement that held a massive rally against presidential contender.

The 62-year-old has become a divisive figure in Taiwanese politics since his reappearance from 2017 and his skills to electrify crowds helped him win mayorship of Kaohsiung in late 2018.

Han accuses DPP of imperilling Taiwan's long-term future by provoking Beijing. Han has portrayed the image of a common man in order to connect to grassroots voters and endorsed nicknames such as "bald guy".

(with inputs from AFP and Reuters)

 
&nbsp;

On Saturday, people in Taiwan will cast their vote in the much-anticipated presidential elections. The incumbent president Tsai Ing-wen will seek re-election and his main challenger will be China-friendly Han Kuo-yu.

On Saturday, people in Taiwan will cast their vote in the much-anticipated presidential elections. The incumbent president Tsai Ing-wen will seek re-election and his main challenger will be China-friendly Han Kuo-yu. More than 19.3 million people will be eligible for the polls, out of which 3.1 million are below 30 years old, and 1.81 million will cast their first vote on Saturday, as per official figures. [Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (Photo Credit: AFP)] Also read: Taiwan's China-friendly presidential hopeful faces backlash in divided south China considers Taiwan as part of its territory which can be taken by force if required. Tsai is seen as the frontrunner in the upcoming elections and youngsters are likely to back him due to her progressive leanings and suspicion to Chinese activities. [Presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu (Photo Credit: AFP)] Also read: Taiwan to vote in shadow of China pressure, Hong Kong protests Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019 after Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) gave a green signal to it. DPP views itself as a party that protects democratic values against Beijing's authoritarianism. Han is the leader of Kuomintang Party who is in favour of closer ties with China. He also made a high-profile visit to China and Hong Kong in March last year and reitarated his commitment to "one China". "Every Taiwan leader needs to find a balance between the US and China, but with Han, he has completely shifted towards China," said Aaron Yin, one of the leaders of a protest movement that held a massive rally against presidential contender. The 62-year-old has become a divisive figure in Taiwanese politics since his reappearance from 2017 and his skills to electrify crowds helped him win mayorship of Kaohsiung in late 2018. Han accuses DPP of imperilling Taiwan's long-term future by provoking Beijing. Han has portrayed the image of a common man in order to connect to grassroots voters and endorsed nicknames such as "bald guy". (with inputs from AFP and Reuters)

Taiwan election 2020: China-friendly Han Kuo-yu challenges President Tsai Ing-wen

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Tsai Ing Wen, News on Tsai Ing Wen, stories on Tsai Ing Wen, articles on Tsai Ing Wen, Tsai Ing Wen stories at Wion, Tsai Ing Wen news, Tsai Ing Wen latest news

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