The city and county polls have seen the mainland-friendly Kuomintang resoundingly defeat the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party
But look closer, and they have more to do with people’s livelihoods than cross-strait relations
South China Morning Post
Date: 2 Dec 2018
By: Cary Huang
President Tsai Ing-wen announces her resignation as chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party after Taiwan’s elections. Photo: Reuters
Common wisdom might suggest that the resounding victory of the mainland-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) and the crushing defeat of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in last weekend’s Taiwanese elections would improve cross-strait relations.
The KMT took 15 of the 22 city and county seats, up from just six previously, while the DPP’s share fell from 13 to just six – including Kaohsiung and Taichung, two of the most important cities in Taiwan, as well as its long-term strongholds. That might be interpreted as Taiwanese endorsement of KMT’s mainland policy and disapproval of DPP’s.
Beijing favours the KMT, which has sought closer economic relations with the mainland since a thaw between what were once enemies fighting a civil war. Cross-strait ties have taken a dive in the two years since DPP President Tsai Ing-wen came to office.
Pragmatism the real winner in Hong Kong, Taiwan elections
The result seems to give Beijing a stronger position, but all the evidence suggests it had more to do with people’s livelihoods, not cross-strait relations. [FULL STORY]
