Why Taiwan is likely to remain an important card for US to play against China
- Although Saturday’s elections saw the independence-leaning DPP suffer heavy losses, observers do not expect many major shifts in policy as a result
Taiwan is expected to remain a major flashpoint for China and the US despite the election defeat of the independence-leaning ruling party over the weekend.
Analysts said the self-ruled island was still seen as an important card for Washington to play against the mainland, while there was no sign that President Tsai Ing-wen would bow to pressure from Beijing by accepting the one-China policy.
After Saturday’s election, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party was left in control of just six cities and counties on the island, while the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), widely seen as more friendly towards Beijing, was in control of 15 cities and counties.
Its gains included the DPP’s traditional stronghold of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan and the second largest city of Taichung, home to the island’s light industry.
Tsai, who has resigned as DPP’s chairwoman on Saturday, will remain as the president, while her premier William Lai, who had offered to quit on Saturday evening, said on Monday that he had agreed to stay on to help stabilise political situation.