DrTdaxp

Until the Taiwan Crisis I was hoping that the Chinese National Party (KMT) prevailed in the Taiwanese elections. Eight years of the Taiwanese Nationalist “Democratic Progressive Party” (DPP) had helped China “grow up” as it came to Taiwanese-Chinese relations. It appeared that Beijing knew the best approach to take if she wanted her one-country-two-systems policy to come to pass. Plus, DPP was increasingly desperate, and bringing up non-issues (the KMT candidate has a US green card) in its attempt to shore up votes.

However, the Tibet Riots have thrown light on how China’s actual “One Country Two Systems” policy with certain provinces actually work. The Tibetan Protesters are helping the world embarrass China for actions that are not appropriate for a Great Power. A DPP victory, or at least a crippled KMT win, would further embarrass the Communist party.

China Tensions Sway Taiwan Election – New York Times
China’s suppression of protests in Tibet and missteps by the opposition Nationalist Party have made the Taiwanese presidential election on Saturday an unexpectedly close race. What once seemed to be an insuperable lead for the Nationalist candidate, Ma Ying-jeou, has narrowed considerably, politicians and political analysts said.

A narrow victory for Mr. Ma would give him a weaker mandate for his goal of closer economic relations with mainland China. An actual defeat for Mr. Ma, now a possibility although not yet the most likely outcome, would be a serious setback for Beijing officials, who have cultivated relations with the Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang, over the past four years.

Mainland Chinese officials loathe Taiwan’s current president, Chen Shui-bian, and his party, the Democratic Progressive Party, for pursuing greater political separation from the mainland. Beijing has been wary of the party’s candidate, Frank Hsieh, even though Mr. Hsieh has repeatedly voiced much more willingness than Mr. Chen to allow increased Taiwanese investment on the mainland and more cross-straits transportation links.

If Mr. Hsieh were to win, it could be perceived in Beijing as a high price to have paid for forcefully putting down demonstrations in Tibet.

For Taiwan, for Tibet, for China, and for the future: Vote DPP.