Tsai Ing-wen says she wants to listen to the young voices of Taiwan. Here’s what they are saying.
The News Lens
Date: 2018/11/28
By: Roy Ngerng
Credit: AP / Chiang Ying-ying
Most people I have spoken to, as well as most news analysis I have read, agree that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost the local elections last Saturday mainly because they did not match up to expectations. It was not that the Kuomintang (KMT) did better. In fact, in none of the conversations that I have had has anyone praised the KMT for any policy proposals or suggestions.
On the other hand, many of the progressive-leaning youths I have spoken to are more concerned that, with the swing in votes to the KMT, Taiwan might be aligning too closely with China.
“If KMT wins at the next presidential election, that’s it. Taiwan will lose its sovereignty,” a young woman – let’s call her Macy – told me. “Can you imagine living under the social credit system that China has come up with? I wouldn’t be able to speak up! My score will keep going down!”
“Why do the Taiwanese vote for the KMT? Don’t they realize that if Taiwan becomes part of China, that we will rank quite lowly under the credit system?” she railed.
[FULL STORY]
