Many fear the island, rather than the U.S., will bear the brunt of Beijing’s ire
The Wall Street Journal
Date: Dec. 6, 2016
By: Andrew Browne
TAIPEI—As soon as President Tsai Ing-wen won election this year, the long lines of mainland
President-Elect Trump’s congratulatory phone call with Tsai Ing-wen was the first time a president-elect, or president, has spoken to a Taiwan leader since 1979. The long gap was the result of the ‘One China’ policy. WSJ’s Jason Bellini reports. Photo: Getty
Chinese visitors waiting for pineapple cakes outside the Chia Te bakery began to shrink.
China switched off its tourist flows as economic punishment against a candidate with many pro-indepedence supporters. It was an instant blow to the owner of Taipei’s famous bakery, Chen Tang-peng, whose semisweet pastries delight Chinese palates.
Now, says the celebrated chef, Beijing has the island “by the throat.”
This vindictiveness is why many in Taiwan aren’t celebrating Ms. Tsai’s telephone call with Donald Trump, the first time a Taiwan leader has spoken with a U.S. President-elect since at least 1979, when Washington broke off formal ties and recognized Beijing.
Although the photograph of the historic moment shows Ms. Tsai wearing a satisfied smile as she hunches over a speakerphone, there has been no public jubilation. People are bracing for Chinese retaliation, fearing Taiwan, not the U.S., will bear the brunt of Beijing’s ire. [FULL STORY]
