The Iowa caucuses are three weeks from today. But this is an election year in a number of countries—including several in the Asia Pacific. First up is Taiwan—where residents pick a new president this coming Saturday. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.
Voters in Taiwan are likely to elect their first woman president this weekend, unseating the political party in power for the past 8 years. Tsai Ing-wen carries the banner of the Democratic Progressive Party or DPP, and is favored by about 40% of voters according to the latest polls.
Eric Chu represents the ruling KMT and gets roughly half that support, while James Soong of the smaller People First Party trails both rivals. Current President Ma Ying-jeou has drawn much closer to mainland China during his two terms in office.
Two months ago, he sat down with Chinese president Xi Jinping…the first time leaders of Taiwan and China had met since the start of the civil war in 1945. While the DPP favors independence from China…Tsai says she’ll maintain the overall status quo…not planning any radical or sudden moves in cross-strait relations.
It’s the weak economy that dominates the concerns of many voters. Taiwan’s in recession, exports fell 10% last year—the steepest tumble in 6 years. Voters will also be picking seats for Taiwan’s 113-seat legislature - controlled by the KMT since the end of China’s civil war in 1949. Pollsters say the legislative election is tighter than the presidential race….but the results could end the dominance of the KMT.
