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Resolving Taiwan’s policy toward China
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Taiwan sailors parade in front of the 'Feng Chia' (1115) navy frigate during a ceremony to commission two Perry-class guided missile frigates from the US into the Taiwan Navy, in the southern port of Kaohsiung on November 8, 2018. President Tsai Ing-wen vowed on November 8 that Taiwan would not (AFP/Chris Stowers)
N
o one likes dealing with a difficult situation. But now is the time to get things done for Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which will hold a by-election on Jan. 6 to replace its chairperson, President Tsai Ing-wen, following the party’s crushing defeat in the Nov. 24 local government elections.
The date was decided on Dec. 5 at a meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee, but the question of whether Taiwan should maintain its policy toward China before the next presidential election is long overdue.
This is not a minor issue in our highly polarized political system though.
Supporters of the president argue that the results of the “nine-in-one” elections are an indication that the government should follow its course on cross-Taiwan Strait policies, while her opponents contend that she should stop postponing decisions and engage in a dialogue with China on the basis of the “1992 Consensus”.
