Tibet Stirs up Taiwan Election
Presidential Hopefuls Criticise China for Bloodshed in Lhasa
Mar 20, 2008
Tibet has emerged an important issue in Taiwan’s presidential election race, with both contenders condemning the Chinese government for bloodshed in the streets of Lhasa.
On March 17, 2007, Taiwanese gathered at National Democracy Hall to hold a candle light vigil for the people of Tibet. The crackdown has drawn comparisons between Tibet and Taiwan and their respective bids for independence from China.
Ma Ying-jeou, leader of Taiwan’s pro-Beijing Kuomintang (KMT) party, is running on a campaign pledge to improve relations across the Taiwan Strait and sign a peace treaty with the People's Republic of China. This platform has widespread appeal for its promise of opening up new markets for Taiwanese exports.
However, the crackdown on independence activists in Tibet has put Ma on the defensive. On March 18, 2007, Ma issued a statement saying he would consider a boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics if "the Communist Party of China (CPC) Regime continues suppressing the Tibetan people and the situation in Tibet deteriorates."
This does not mean the two parties have reached common ground on the issue. These strong words came after Ma’s rival candidate, Democratic Progressive Party leader Frank Hseih, said Taiwan could become the next Tibet under Ma’s leadership.
Prior to this comment, Ma remained silent on the suppression of the protests in Lhasa. His threat to withdraw from the Olympics, a move widely considered unlikely, has drawn even more criticism from the opposition and KMT loyalists alike.
Taiwanese will go to the polls on Saturday, March 22. Protests, massive rallies and the occasional street brawl mark the closing days of Taiwan’s ever-divisive elections. The last Presidential election resulted in an unexpected DPP victory. Pollsters and pundits had predicted a KMT victory, but an assasination attempt on DPP President Chen Shui-bian just prior to election night is believed to have tipped the balance. Though elections in Taiwan traditionally have narrow victory margins, analysts are predicting a victory for the KMT, which scored a decisive victory in Taiwan’s legislative elections in January.
At stake is the future of Taipei's often adversarial relationship with Beijing. China will watch with anticipation as Taiwan’s 17 million voters elect a new president. Despite fiery rhetoric from both camps over Tibet, better relations with Beijing are expected to follow the election, regardless of the result. An improved relationship with China is considered a necessity to sustain the country’s economic growth.
For example, both parties have pledged to increase tourism from the mainland as part of a greater plan to revitalize the economy. The ramifications of this will be felt in China, which has a strong stake in the question of Taiwan's role in the Asia Pacific region.
The DPP strongly favours Independence for Taiwan and campaigns for a seat in the United Nations - a bid condemned by America, Russia and the EU. This stance is expected to soften following the election due, in part, to the lack of international support.
China demands Taiwan adhere to the 'One China Policy,' which claims Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong and the mainland are all part of greater China. The policy demands recognition of China’s sovereignty over these territories, while offering the regions considerable autonomy.
