As two women slog it out to be Taiwan’s first female president, Sophy Ridge explains why this battle makes the country’s imposing neighbour look dreadfully out of date
The Telegraph
Date: 21 Jul 2015
By Sophy Ridge, Political Correspondent, Sky News
Taiwan has the kind of democracy that gives you goose bumps.
Tsai Ing-wen, left, and Hung Hsiu-chu Photo: AP
Throughout its history the little island has been squashed and shaped by the closest super-power, China.
Beijing continues to have sovereignty over Taiwan and seems to view it as a renegade sibling that will inevitably be subsumed. If Taiwan should at some point officially declare independence, China has refused to rule out military intervention.
Despite that, since 1996 the plucky Taiwanese have been electing their own leaders. Election turnout is consistently around 75 per cent. Here, democracy really matters.
This year the Taiwanese are preparing to use their votes to do something extraordinary.
No matter who wins, the next president is almost certain to be a woman. [FULL STORY]