Tsai-Ing-Wen and the Democratic Progressive Party has won a historic landslide victory in the Taiwan election. They defeated the much more Pro China rival Han Kuo-Yu and the KMT. This is a big surprise and no one would have expected this outcome a year ago.
This is a clear message to the one rule Communist Party in Beijing. The people in Taiwan rejects China`s plan for reunification with the island. It`s a remarkable turnaround for the president, whose party suffered major losses in local elections just a year ago.
I believe that the rise of the party started when Pro Democracy protesters in Hong Kong took to the streets last year. People are more awake today than only a few months ago. Months of ant-govenment protests in nearby Hong Kong boosted Wen`s campaign, and scenes of police cracking down on demonstrators appear to have galvanised younger voters.
Tsai warned that Taiwan`s democratic rights must be preserved, and the country has its own military, currency and a passport accepted in most countries. But, Taiwan does not have a seat at the United Nations, and only 15 countries officially recognise Taiwan`s democratic government. United States is not one of them.
Tsai said that the people in Taiwan reject the one country, two systems model. We respect democracy and our sovereign rights, she said. Huh, it sounds like Trump who is fighting against the globalists in Europe.
On the other side; Washington is Taiwan`s most important ally and trading partner. It will be interesting to see how far the U.S will go to defend Taiwan and what will Xi and the Communists in Beijing do in respond to Tsai Ing-Wen`s win, which gives her a second term in office? The Communists have ramped up pressure on Taiwan and cut off official communication with Tsai in the past.
Tsai Ing-Wen said peace means that China must abondon threats of force against Taiwan. She also said she hope Beijing understands that democratic Taiwan will not concede to threats. China says it will not change position that Taiwan is part of it after Tsai`s re-election.
China claims Taiwan is part of its territory under its “One China Principle”.
We now see a similar situation in Taiwan is it is in Hong Kong. One Country, two systems. Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a state in East Asia.
Taiwanese indigenous peoples settled the island of Taiwan around 6,000 years ago. In the 17th century, Dutch rule opened the island to mass Han immigration. After the brief Kingdom of Tungning in parts of the southern and western areas of the island, the island was annexed in 1683 by the Qing dynastry of China, and ceded to the Empire of Japan in 1895.
Following the surrender of Japan in 1945, the Republic of China, which had overthrown and succeeded the Qing in 1911, took control of Taiwan on behalf of thw World War II Allies.
The resumption of the Chinese Civil War led to the loss of the mainland to the Communist Party of China (CPP) and the flight of the ROC government to Taiwan in 1949. although the ROC government continued to claim to be the legitimate representative of China, since 1950 its effective jurisdiction has been limited to Taiwan and numerous smaller islands.
In the early 1960`s, Taiwan entered a period of rapid economic growth and industrialisation called the «Taiwan Miracle». In the late 1980`s and early 1990`s, the ROC transitioned from a one-party military dictatorship to a multi-party democracy with a semi-presidential system.
Taiwan`s export-oriented industrial economy is the 21st-largest in the world, with major contributions from steel, machinery, electronics and chemicals manufacturing. Taiwan is a developed country, ranking 15th in GDP per capita. It is ranked highly in terms of political and civil liberties, education, health care and human developments.
The political status of Taiwan remains uncertain.
The ROC is no longer a member of the UN, having been replaced by the PRC in 1971. Taiwan is claimed by the PRC, which refuses diplomatic relations with countries that recognise the ROC. International organisations in which the PRC participates either refuses to grant membership to Taiwan or allow it to particitpate only on a non-state basis.
Taiwan is a member of the World Trade Organization, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Asian Development Bank under various offices and institutions that function as de facto embassies and consulates.
Domesticay, the major political division is between parties fvouring eventual Chinese unification and promoting a Chinese identity contrasted with those aspiring to independence and promoting Taiwanese identity, although both sides have moderated their positions to broaden their appeal.
Taiwan officially known as Republic of China has been self-ruled since 1950, but China considers Taiwan part of its land that must be reunited with mainland even by force.
The U.S hailed Tsai`s victory as demonstration of Taiwan`s robust Democratic system. Taiwan`s president Tsai Ing-Wen secures second term in office with 57,1% of votes. The vote is seen as a choice between moving closer to China or resisting push for reunification.
Tsai Ing-Wen told the supporters “today we have defended our democracy and freedom”.
Ket Garden
Shiny bull 