MORE DEFENCE SPENDING
With only 12 friends, Taipei lacks political reputation on the planet level.
But it has its own state, martial and money, and the majority of the 23 million people see themselves as having a different Chinese identity, separate from the Chinese.
Following in Tsai’s feet, Lai is expected to boost military spending and improve relationships with institutions, especially the US, Taiwan’s essential companion and arms supplier.
Back of Lai’s opening, Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, which handles fly- sea problems, called” Taiwan freedom and peace in the sea… like water and fire”.
Lai has made offers to begin Beijing’s high-level communications with China, which Beijing cut off in 2016 with the election of Tsai, but researchers predict that such attempts will be rejected.
China is, but, having to” string a very narrow needles here”, said RAND Corporation’s Kuo, who is , director of its Taiwan Policy Initiative.
” On the one hand, they do want to say that the DPP, you know, if you decide to declare freedom, if you do issues across our lines, we will listen with military force. But more they do that, he said, the more they undermine the KMT’s social standing.
” And but for China, they’re trying to do this type of carrot and keep method. On the one hand, trying to reach out to the KMT. On the other hand, trying to undermine the DPP’s assistance.
Lai’s domestic challenges loom large too, given his Democratic Progressive Party ( DPP ) lost its parliamentary majority in the January election, which , could make it difficult for him to push through his policies.
In a harsh debate over political reforms the criticism is pushing, lawmakers on Friday punched, shoved, and screamed at one another. When politicians resume their conversations on Tuesday, there might be more fighting.