Air raid sirens over Taiwan due to Chinese satellite launch: tense atmosphere just before the presidential election

Presidential elections of regional and international concerns

The results of the presidential elections in Taiwan could have serious consequences for stability in the region. Under the current ruling Democratic Progressive Party, relations with China have deteriorated sharply. Therefore, the DPP candidate cannot count on much sympathy from Beijing. If he wins, tensions between China and Taiwan could increase, which could also have consequences for the global economy, because the Taiwan Strait is an important trade route.

The Kuomintang takes a more pro-China course, although this does not mean it supports reunification. Political systems appear to be very different from that. The party mainly wants “warmer relations.” The Kuomintang candidate is campaigning as if the presidential elections constitute a “choice between war and peace.” Choosing the DPP candidate would put Taiwan on a path of danger and uncertainty, that's the message.

The Kuomintang is the party that fled China to Taiwan in 1949 after defeat by Mao Zedong's communist army. Despite that past, the party wants better relations with mainland China. Not only because of the emotional bond with China that still exists among the heirs of the 1949 generation, but also because China is the largest sales market for Taiwanese products.