Incumbent Tsai Ing-wen has enjoyed a resurgence in support. Here’s why.
The Diplomat
Date: December 12, 2019
By: Yoshiyuki Ogasawara
With just four weeks to go until Taiwan’s presidential election in January, observers are largely in
Credit: Official Photo by Makoto Lin / Office of the President
The contest is a three-way race between Tsai, the incumbent candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP); Han Kuo-yu of the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT); and James Soong of the People First Party (PFP), a minor party.
Last year at this time, the Tsai administration suffered a major defeat in local elections and Tsai’s approval rate was in the cellar. Her prospects for reelection appeared dim. The situation began to change quietly in January this year and then more dramatically in June and July.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping made a major address on Taiwan in January, in which he emphasized his resolve to unify Taiwan under the banner of “One country, two systems.” Tsai quickly responded: “The Taiwanese people will never accept ‘One country, two systems.’” Although Tsai’s robust response was welcomed by Taiwanese youth, most people were largely unmoved. [FULL STORY]