Taipei, Taiwan, in October 2016. Taiwan has spent most of the last half a century in a diplomatic no man’s land. (David Chang / European Pressphoto Agency)

Los Angelese Times
Date: December 19, 2016
By: Ralph Jennings

Suddenly, Taiwan sees an opening.

Having spent most of the last half a century in a diplomatic no man’s land, in which it technically does not exist as far as most of the world is concerned, Taiwan is hoping to parlay President-elect Donald Trump’s surprising response to its overture into enhanced relations with major countries in Asia.

The risk: an eventual backlash from China, which is both its archrival and its most important economic partner.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is asking India and countries in Southeast Asia for stronger ties in investment and tourism, while seeking to enhance a loose alliance with Japan. The president, in office since May, has chafed against China’s insistence that her island and Beijing unite under one flag.    [FULL  STORY]