MALE: The Maldives has called for India to withdraw troops from its territory by March 15, an official said on Sunday (Jan 14), in a step that will further strain ties between South Asian neighbours. President Mohamed Muizzu won election last year with a pledge to end the Maldives’ “IndiaContinue Reading
CAIRO: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Sunday (Jan 14) for the establishment of a Palestinian state and a ceasefire in Gaza, where 100 days of the Israel-Hamas war have killed thousands. In a press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo, the top Chinese diplomat saidContinue Reading
“That protest (in Hong Kong) had a profound impact on young people in Taiwan, and made us want Taiwan to be recognised separately and independently in the world,” university clerk Hana told AFP. Her friend Mike, a construction worker, said the current set-up, in which Taiwan is independent in practiceContinue Reading
In the run-up to the election on Saturday (Jan 13), China placed restrictions on Taiwan exports of petroleum products to the mainland covered by the cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement to increase pressure.
Alongside these developments were continuing Chinese military activity near Taiwan, including the launch of a satellite and at least several surveillance balloons. There was also alleged pressure on tycoon Terry Kuo to withdraw his candidacy in the presidential race to force an electoral alliance between the TPP and KMT, which came on top of alleged efforts to discredit the DPP on social media.
Such activity was a continuation of developments from before the election campaign period. They combined to create a sense that pressure from China is a constant rather than a variable. This normalisation of the challenge from Beijing reduced the electoral effects of pressure from China.
A third related observation is that the neutralisation of China as an issue in Taiwan’s electoral politics may point to a shift in Taiwan political landscape. The KMT’s performance in the legislative election was led largely by its local factions, which focus on service delivery and constituency issues.
DPP and TPP supporters tend to identify more with Taiwan and feel more distant from China, even if this translates into different substantive policy preferences. Chinese political pressure and economic uncertainty are further accelerating Taiwanese businesses’ relocation and diversification from China, which is consistent with broader global trends.
Taiwan foreign direct investment (FDI) to Southeast Asia has been growing in recent years and outstripped FDI to China in 2023. These trends mean that direct pro-Beijing appeals may be facing a diminishing market in Taiwan politics.
For the KMT, which has been a key bridge to Taiwan for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), they may need to decide if they want to continue being the Chinese Nationalist Party or a party for Taiwanese.
SEOUL: North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday (Jan 14), Seoul’s military said, days after Pyongyang staged live-fire exercises near the tense maritime border with the South. “Our military detected one suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile launched from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea” at about 2.55pmContinue Reading
China’s state broadcaster CCTV said deals included “infrastructure construction, medical care and health care, improvement of people’s livelihoods, new energy sources, agriculture and marine environmental protection” agreements. “Longstanding China-Maldives relations are built upon an exemplary model of mutual respect,” Muizzu’s office said. “DIMINISH RELIANCE” Tensions with New Delhi flared afterContinue Reading
AGAM, Indonesia: Indonesia’s Marapi volcano erupted on Sunday (Jan 14), with ash rising 1,300m from the peak six weeks after a fatal eruption, according to the country’s geological agency. The volcano in West Sumatra province erupted at least twice by 3.37am GMT on Sunday, the agency said, urging the evacuationContinue Reading
ALOR GAJAH: A woman was killed and three passengers were injured after a bus travelling from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur collided with a motorcycle on the North-South Expressway early Saturday (Jan 13) morning. The bus burst into flames after the crash at about 3.50am along the northbound side of theContinue Reading
WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden said on Saturday (Jan 13) that the United States does not support the independence of Taiwan, after Taiwanese voters rebuffed China and gave the ruling party a third presidential term. Earlier in the day, the Taiwanese ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) presidential candidate William Lai Ching-teContinue Reading
On Saturday, Mr Lai won 40.05 per cent of the vote, comfortably ahead of the Kuomintang’s (KMT) Mr Hou Yu-ih with 33.49 per cent and the Taiwan People’s Party’s (TPP) Dr Ko Wen-je with 26.46 per cent, according to the Central Election Commission.
The DPP lost its legislative majority, securing 51 seats out of the 113 available. The KMT took the most seats, with 52, and the TPP won eight seats. Two seats were taken by independent candidates.
Mr Lai, the former mayor of Tainan, is a noted proponent of Taiwan’s independence. His rivals and critics have said his election would endanger Taiwan and threaten peace with China.
In his victory speech, he extended an olive branch to the opposition and to China.
He said: “Under the principles of dignity and parity, we will use exchanges to replace obstructionism, dialogue to replace confrontation, and confidently pursue exchanges and cooperation with China.
“This furthers the well-being of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and achieves our objective of peace and common prosperity.”
Shortly after Mr Lai’s win, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said his victory would not change the basic landscape of cross-strait relations.
Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the results showed the DPP cannot represent mainstream public opinion on the island, according to a statement carried by Xinhua state news agency.