The Kuomntang (KMT) has crushed the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the 2008 Legislature Elections. The stunning blow will greatly affect world politics. The KMT was expected to win a majority of seats but the election was suppose to be close. Now the KMT has about seventy-five percent of the legislature and can do anything it pleases.
The KMT is the party which nominally ruled all of the Chinese Republic until the Communist Revolution. The party has long been in power and favors of "One China" policy while supporting (at least nominally) negotiations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) on reunification under favorable terms. Chen Shui-bian, the President of the Republic of China (RoC) and a leader of the DPP, favors Taiwanese independence and the concept of Taiwan not being China.
The DPP has been pushing a referendum that would mark a radical change in RoC policy: seeking reentry in the United Nations as "Taiwan." This has angered the PRC and has made the thought of war once again a reality in the back of everyone's mind. The victory of the KMT; however, and confusion between the KMT and DPP on the language of the referendum and a counter-referendum should defuse fear of war for now.
The main weak point for the KMT is that its foreign policy program can be described as jerkish. The ROC has territorial claims against almost of all China's neighbors. Instead of trying to make alliance ROC has complaints against everyone including Afghanstan!(?) The KMT victory may calm nerves but one day it may be forced to make sacrifices.
The main weak point for the KMT is that its foreign policy program can be described as jerkish. The ROC has territorial claims against almost of all China's neighbors. Instead of trying to make alliance ROC has complaints against everyone including Afghanstan!(?) The KMT victory may calm nerves but one day it may be forced to make sacrifices.
1 comment:
It's too bad Taiwan can't claim independence. I'm surprised so many Taiwanese want One China. The "nation" has done so well on its own without the communist motherland.
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