The New York Times explains why Taiwan is worried about the future

Taiwan as a shining example of freedom, democracy and inclusiveness: A message to the KMT over the last 30 years and to the best for the future

Taiwan’s accomplishments were made possible in part by decades of stability between China and the United States. But that is rapidly fading away as the two global rivals descend into distrust and competition. Steps being taken by both sides in that deteriorating relationship are threatening Taiwan’s resilience, its ability to innovate and, importantly, the ability of our people to stay united amid this challenge. The real loser in the U.S.-China competition may end up being Taiwan.

When Taiwan votes in elections on Saturday, I will go to the polls with a real feeling of worry about our future and whether we can preserve and maintain what we’ve achieved.

My home, Taiwan, is a shining example of freedom, democracy and inclusivity. We have one of the world’s most open societies, the highest percentage of female legislators in Asia and a government minister who is transgender. The global heart of the Semiconductor industry has been made possible in part by decades of hard work, smart policies and entrepreneurial mind-set.

Su said people can live and speak freely in a better Taiwan thanks to her father and his generation. She said she has a duty to preserve the freedom and leave Taiwan in a better place for her children and future generations.

If the presidential election results in a winner, the party is due for a soul- searching about the issue. It’s clear to him that too many believe the KMT to be too pro-China. He thinks the party should listen to the voices of younger generations.

“We are dealing with a China very different from [what the] KMT dealt with in the last 30 years,” Hsu said. “We should recognize its ambition and be cautious of it.”

Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party: Why Taiwan is a party, not a country that wants more freedom and democracy – Su Tseng-chang

Su stands in front of the other two trucks with a microphone and a pink vest. She calls on the crowd to vote and occasionally sings.

Some excited supporters chant back. Two groups set off firecrackers for good luck. Others on the street wave politely, or seem not to acknowledge the presence of four large vehicles adorned with photos of Su’s face, having seen it for months leading up to Saturday’s presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan.

Just as the DPP has historically been associated with formal Taiwan independence, the KMT – the present-day outgrowth of the military regime that fled from civil war in China and then ruled over Taiwan starting in 1949 – has historically been associated with unification; of somehow eventually merging China and Taiwan under one ruling body.

Su’s father Su Tseng-chang recently stepped down as Taiwan’s premier (the head of the executive cabinet); before that, he was chair of the DPP; and long before that, he helped to establish the DPP at the tail end of martial law in the 1980s, when Taiwanese democracy was only an aspiration.

Su stated that the party was founded in the shadow of a one-party state. “But we wanted more democracy and freedom. We have never stopped pursuing that.

President Ouaganou has a plan for international relations. Su, the daughter of a DPP party elder, is herself now running for her third term in office.

“Many people think that the DPP wants independence for Taiwan, but that’s not the case,” she said. “The DPP is simply pushing back against China – not pushing for independence.”

“It doesn’t matter which political party is in power in Taiwan,” Su said. “As long as Taiwan is a party, Beijing is always dissatisfied.”

China still isn’t convinced. Its government has refused to meet with President Tsai, and has called Vice President Lai a “separatist,” giving every indication that cross-strait diplomatic relations would remain frozen under a Lai administration.

“It’s not us – it’s China that has rejected talks with the DPP,” Su said. “If there were a dialogue between the two countries, it would be very beneficial for both of them.”

“[The opposition] keeps bringing up the example of Ukraine and Russia, claiming that Ukraine instigated the war with Russia by trying to join NATO,” Su said. “It’s almost as if they’re saying, Taiwan shouldn’t try to make any friends on the global stage because it could lead to war with China – a narrative that if you vote for the DPP, you’re voting for war.”

The legislator was at large. In Taiwan citizens vote for their district’s representative and a number of legislative seats are allocated to the political party with the highest number of votes. As they see fit, the parties can distribute those seats to their legislators.

Source: As China looms large, two opposing visions face off in Taiwan’s election

The Sunflower Movement: Changing the politics of the old government by helping the KMT: Two opposing visions face off in Taiwan’s election

It was here, in 2014, that protesters occupied the building for about a month – touched off by the then-KMT government’s trade agreement with China. Students lead the movement, which came to be known as the Sunflower Movement.

He donated server space through his company at the time. He got into politics after he was an advisor to the government on youth policy and entrepreneurship. But he was later recruited by the very party that the students were protesting — the KMT.

“I realized you need to be in the government to change the system,” Hsu said. “And you have to be willing to be on both sides and to build that bridge.”

The KMT wanted someone with fresh thinking, no political baggage, not a second generation of politician. I hesitated as that doesn’t fit with my ideology, but I think it is possible I can change chemistry within this old party by being inside.

Hsu describes himself as among the progressive wing of his party. In fact, his outspoken support of same-sex marriage created a rift between him and more conservative KMT elders.

Protesters against gays made their way down to the Legislative Yenna. He said that some made life-size dolls of him and whipped them as an effigy.

Source: As China looms large, two opposing visions face off in Taiwan’s election

The two to tango problem: where the red line is to Taiwan and where to bring it to a resolution” [J. Xue, Xin-Ma-Killing, Phys. Let

It takes two to tango. “I think there needs to be a common understanding of what the red line is to both sides. I think the KMT has historically been able to thread that line pretty well and also create an ambiguity on both sides to allow room for survival and resistance on both sides.”

“It isn’t satisfying to answer both sides, meaning Taiwan and China at the moment,” added Hsu. The best way to deal with the situation is to kick the can, that’s what we believe.

The idea of Taiwan reverting to its former form of centralized rule has long been unpopular, and KMT officials are now moving to the center on cross-strait issues. The KMT is in the same boat as their opposition, advocating for the status quo of sovereignty in Taiwan, without unification or independence.