Beijing opts for carrots over sticks as Tsai leads pro-mainland rival

Nikkei Asian Review
Date: November 5, 2019
By: Shunsuke Tabeta and Kensaku Ihara, Staff writers

BEIJING/TAIPEI — China will grant Taiwanese businesses greater access to build the mainland's 5G

infrastructure, Beijing said Monday, one of 26 new measures seen as incentives to sway the outcome of the island's presidential election in January.

"The opportunities to develop the mainland will be shared with our Taiwanese compatriots," the Chinese State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office said.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, representing the Beijing-skeptic Democratic Progressive Party, is strongly favored to win re-election. The new measures seem designed to boost her China-friendly opponent, who faces negative press related to the monthslong Hong Kong protests.

Along with projects for fifth-generation wireless networks, Beijing also will offer Taiwanese companies equal access compared with mainland counterparts for participating in areas such as civil aviation and theme parks.    [FULL  STORY]