DPP's Tsai Ing Wen elected Taiwanese president.

[Anonymous]

I'm so pleased that the pan greens will soon take back the presidency and we will have our first woman president.



http://news.yahoo.com/opposition-favorite-win-taiwans-presidential-election-110329028.html">http://news.yahoo.com/opposition-favori ... 29028.html">http://news.yahoo.com/opposition-favorite-win-taiwans-presidential-election-110329028.html

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Voting began Saturday in Taiwan's presidential election in which the island's China-friendly Nationalist Party appears likely to lose power to the pro-independence opposition, amid concerns that the island's economy is under threat from China and broad opposition among voters to Beijing's demands for political unification.



The Democratic Progressive Party's Tsai Ing-wen is poised to become the self-governing island's first female president, returning the main opposition party to power after eight years under Nationalist President Ma Ying-jeou, who is constitutionally barred from another term.



The outcome of the contest for a majority in the 133-seat legislature remains uncertain, with independents and smaller parties posing a threat to both the Nationalists and the DPP.



A win for Tsai would introduce new uncertainty in the complicated relationship between Taiwan and mainland China, which claims the island as its own territory and threatens to use force if it declares formal independence.



"This is not about defeating the other party. This is about working to overcome the obstacles in Taiwan's path," Tsai told supporters gathered in the rain at a final rally Friday night in front of the presidential office building in the center of the capital, Taipei.



Tsai has pledged to maintain the status quo of de-facto independence for the island of 23 million, although she has refused to endorse the principle that Taiwan and China are parts of a single nation to be unified eventually.



Beijing has made that its baseline for continuing negotiations that have produced a series of pacts on trade, transport and exchanges. Observers say China is likely to adopt a wait-and-see approach to Tsai's presidency, but might use diplomatic and economy pressure if she is seen as straying too far from its unification agenda.



Taiwan was a Japanese colony from 1885 to 1945 and split again from China amid civil war in 1949.



Tsai's Nationalist opponent, Eric Chu, was a late entry in the race after the party ditched its original candidate, Hung Hsiu-chu, whose abrasive style was seen as alienating voters. He has trailed Tsai by double digits in the latest polls.



China has largely declined to comment on the polls, although its chief official for Taiwan affairs this month warned of potential major challenges in the relationship in the year ahead.



Tsai supporters appeared confident that ties with China would weather a change in government.



"As long as Tsai doesn't provoke the other side, it's OK," said former newspaper distribution agent Lenex Chang, 66, who attended Tsai's rally. "If mainland China democratizes someday, we could consider a tie-up," he added.

[Renee]

So Chinese politics doesn't belong in the political subforum? How does that work?

[Anonymous]

This is how election events have been in and around our capital, Taipei.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/01/16/2003637316">http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/a ... 2003637316">http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/01/16/2003637316

Despite rain and a cold front, tens of thousands of people gathered in a stadium in New Taipei City's Banciao District (板橋) and on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei to attend the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen's (蔡英文) twin election eve rallies.



"Over the past four years, I've traveled around Taiwan, I've seen the suffering of the people and I've heard the public's call for change," Tsai told the Banciao crowd, triggering rounds of cheers and calls for her to win the election. "The third rotation of power [in the nation's history] should further deepen democracy in Taiwan, fuel economic development and, most importantly, allow people to regain trust in politics. Democratic politics is responsible politics, if [a government] cannot do it well, then we change it."



Tsai promised that she would not let the public down, saying she hopes that years from now, when people think of this year's presidential election, they can proudly and loudly say that they voted for Tsai and voted for change in Taiwan with no regrets.



"I want everyone to go to polling stations with hope and expectations," Tsai said. "We need your vote for the nation's progress."



Following the rally in New Taipei City, Tsai and her running mate, Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), traveled to Taipei to join the other tens of thousands of supporters awaiting them on Ketagalan Boulevard, asking her supporters in Banciao to follow.



"Please come with me to Ketagalan Boulevard, be my company on the last mile," Tsai said, followed by hundreds of supporters immediately departing for Taipei

[Anonymous]

So Chinese politics doesn't belong in the political subforum? Who does that work?

This is Taiwanese politics though Renee..



I will move it, but after I get a reaction from a certain ultra nationalist mainland poster..

 

I feel like provoking tonight.

[Renee]

So Chinese politics doesn't belong in the political subforum? Who does that work?

This is Taiwanese politics though Renee..



I will move it, but after I get a reaction from a certain ultra nationalist mainland poster..

 

I feel like provoking tonight.

Smartass, I didn't think you had it in you.  

[easter bunny]

I don't know anything about Taiwanese politics - just Tsai Ing.

[Anonymous]

So Chinese politics doesn't belong in the political subforum? Who does that work?

This is Taiwanese politics though Renee..



I will move it, but after I get a reaction from a certain ultra nationalist mainland poster..

 

I feel like provoking tonight.

Smartass, I didn't think you had it in you.  

If I'm comfortable enough with a person I will do something like this, but only if I am comfortable with that person.

[Anonymous]

I don't know anything about Taiwanese politics - just Tsai Ing.

 Lol easter bunny..



Taiwanese democracy is so lively compared to Canada..



Even though I live here, I'm much more interested in Taiwanese politics than anything at any level in Canada.

[Anonymous]

at a campaign event in Taipei City

http://www.taipeitimes.com/images/2016/01/16/P01-160116-p1C.jpg">



Tsai Ing Wen is 59 and holds a PhD from the London School of Economics

http://atimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Tsai-Ing-wen.jpg">

https://newbloommag.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/photocredittimemagazine.jpg">

[easter bunny]

I've always known that they make good products in Taiwan. Turns out they make good people there too.  

[Anonymous]

^The only fucking reason that splittist twat will probably win is because the conservative pan blue side are running two candidates. If the KMT's Chu and James Soong of the PFP had a unified ticket your lefty DPP wouldn't be so fucking smug.  



You think Taiwan's economy is struggling now? Tsai doesn't recognize the 92 consesnus. Good luck getting a single concession from Beijing. The international noose around your shitty little rogue province will get a lot fucking tighter.

[Romero]

Funny, I was just reading this article:

This Death Metal Vocalist Is Running In Taiwan's General Election



From his campaign photos alone, you'd never guess Taiwanese parliamentary candidate Freddy Lim is the lead singer of Asia's hottest death metal band.



With his long hair pulled back, black eyeliner removed and tattoos covered up, the head-banging politician is vying for one of 113 seats in the nation's sixth presidential election on Saturday, which will choose a new legislature and new president.



Lim founded the small New Power Party following the Sunflower Movement of 2014, in which local students occupied parliament for three weeks to protest a trade agreement with China.



His campaign is geared toward first-time voters in Taiwan, where the voting age is 20. According to the Taiwan Alliance for the Advancement of Youth Rights and Welfare, 80 per cent of the island's youth want the age to be lowered to 18.



The 39-year-old rock star, who's also the former chair of Amnesty International Taiwan, has made no effort to conceal his criticism of the current Nationalist Party's relationship with Beijing. In an interview with CNN, he criticized Taiwan's dependence on the Chinese economy, saying Taiwan's youth don't agree with it.



His opponents are not amused by his nontraditional campaigning tactics, which included a concert and rally in the city of Taipei by his band Chthonic. Nationalist Party legislative candidate Lin Yu-fang reportedly called the hardcore sensation "mentally abnormal" and urged voters to keep Lim out of government.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/freddy-lim-taiwan-election_569955eae4b0778f46f953e6">//http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/freddy-lim-taiwan-election_569955eae4b0778f46f953e6

[Anonymous]

^The only fucking reason that splittist twat will probably win is because the conservative pan blue side are running two candidates. If the KMT's Chu and James Soong of the PFP had a unified ticket your lefty DPP wouldn't be so fucking smug.  



You think Taiwan's economy is struggling now? Tsai doesn't recognize the 92 consesnus. Good luck getting a single concession from Beijing. The international noose around your shitty little rogue province will get a lot fucking tighter.

Shen Li, how could Taiwan possibly have any less international recognition?



China has been poaching what few third world small nations that still officially recognize Taiwan for more than two decades..



We can't even get observer status at the World Health Organization..



Some encouraging signs though from an American presidential candidate.



http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/01/09/2003636798">http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/ ... 2003636798">http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/01/09/2003636798

Republican US presidential hopeful Marco Rubio said that, if elected, he would defend Taiwan should the nation be invaded by China.

Did you notice how senator Rubio referred to Taiwan as a nation?

[Anonymous]

Funny, I was just reading this article:

This Death Metal Vocalist Is Running In Taiwan's General Election



From his campaign photos alone, you'd never guess Taiwanese parliamentary candidate Freddy Lim is the lead singer of Asia's hottest death metal band.



With his long hair pulled back, black eyeliner removed and tattoos covered up, the head-banging politician is vying for one of 113 seats in the nation's sixth presidential election on Saturday, which will choose a new legislature and new president.



Lim founded the small New Power Party following the Sunflower Movement of 2014, in which local students occupied parliament for three weeks to protest a trade agreement with China.



His campaign is geared toward first-time voters in Taiwan, where the voting age is 20. According to the Taiwan Alliance for the Advancement of Youth Rights and Welfare, 80 per cent of the island's youth want the age to be lowered to 18.



The 39-year-old rock star, who's also the former chair of Amnesty International Taiwan, has made no effort to conceal his criticism of the current Nationalist Party's relationship with Beijing. In an interview with CNN, he criticized Taiwan's dependence on the Chinese economy, saying Taiwan's youth don't agree with it.



His opponents are not amused by his nontraditional campaigning tactics, which included a concert and rally in the city of Taipei by his band Chthonic. Nationalist Party legislative candidate Lin Yu-fang reportedly called the hardcore sensation "mentally abnormal" and urged voters to keep Lim out of government.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/freddy-lim-taiwan-election_569955eae4b0778f46f953e6">//http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/freddy-lim-taiwan-election_569955eae4b0778f46f953e6

A celebutard from a fringe party?? Yeah, he'll restore the Asian dragon days.

[easter bunny]

China should forget about Taiwan and annex North Korea before that lunatic causes a nuclear war.