The threat of China is looming large in Taiwan. Ever since Xi-Jinping ascended the premiership of China for the third time, the Chinese establishment has made its intention public to annexe Taiwan, if required using its atrocious military power. China has already started flexing its muscles by displaying its various military exercises on the seashore and in the air. And so the present elections in Taiwan will be a prelude to the future exhibition of military work-out in Taiwan.
The local elections will be the first national polls since China’s massive military build-up against Taiwan, which it claims as its territory and has decided to take by force if necessary.
Local elections have always focused on domestic issues such as social welfare, housing, and energy. However, this election is going to usher in lot many newer issues including in particular the sovereignty of Taiwan. The incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen and senior government officials have urged voters to use these elections as a pledge to withstand Beijing’s belligerence and express their solidarity towards Taiwan’s call for democracy that will not succumb to Chinese threats.
KMT is pro-Beijing
The main opposition party ‘KMT’ has been traditionally closer to Beijing however it has deliberately avoided being branded as a pro-China faction, as it may have dented its vote bank among the local populace. It has stayed closer to a local issue during its various campaigns.
At the moment the whole world is watching whether Taiwanese people will choose a pro-China political party or a party that defends democracy and supports Taiwan’s sovereignty and independence,”
Notably, all pro-independence party candidates including Chen have signed a pledge of “no surrender” to China.
On last Sunday more than 150,000 people gathered in front of the Taipei city hall and led a huge procession with hundreds of motorcycles, giant floats, balloons and mascots, besides blaring a soundtrack of music that is banned in China. The crowds hit the streets in thousands in solidarity and support for the Taipei mayoral candidate Chen Shih-Chung, a former minister of health with the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
The blistering event was just one of the rallies before all-important Taiwan’s local elections on Saturday. Millions of people are expected to go to their hometowns to vote for new leaders from the county level down to village representatives.
Supporters breathlessly waved flags and yelled, “win the election!” One of Chen’s main rivals for the seat, which is regarded as a stepping stone to the Presidency, is Chiang Wan-an.
Chiang of KMT is the great-grandson of Chiang Kai-Shek
Chiang happens to be the great-grandson of Chiang Kai-shek, the Kuomintang (KMT) leader who ran a decades-long dictatorship in Taiwan after fleeing from China at the end of the civil war.
The Mayoral fight appears to be a tough contest between the pro-Taiwan and pro-China factions.
The elections, which are held every four years and considered “Taiwan’s midterms”, are going to be a litmus test for the ruling DPP’s vote base and a prelude to the Presidential Polls in 2024. The outcome of the poll will ratify China’s claim over the island country as vindictive, illegitimate or genuine and as such the vital issue of the campaign hangs around China’s aggression.
Domestic performance will overweigh China hatred issue
But the psyche of the voters at the moment is more aligned towards the Tsai government’s domestic performance and hence the acrimony for cross-border aggression from China is playing second fiddle.
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Local issues more pertinent
Recent polls have suggested that the opposition (pro-China) KMT is expected to win more local races than the DPP. “It is not that KMT is winning more ideological support, but the individual recognition of few KMT candidates may overweigh Party preferences.
Analysts have claimed that a win by the KMT would not necessarily shift policies in favour of Beijing.
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Young voters are pro-independence
Saturday’s vote also includes a referendum on a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at dropping the voting age from 20 to 18 for the first time. The proposal has infuriated Beijing because the vibrant youth in Taiwan are increasingly pro-independence and enthusiastic about democracy, with many running for local seats.
Although the present elections will have no say on foreign policies, especially relevant to China-centric issues, the DPP’s impetus to hype China-issue appears to be more political.
The present poll is obviously going to provide a referendum on China’s determined plans to annexe Taiwan, the moot point of discussion would be the time frame and Taiwan’s reaction – whether a meek surrender or a valiant defiance
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