Taiwan to Beijing: Pound Sand

Taiwanese voters swept the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te into power on Saturday in an explicit rejection of China’s warnings not to vote for him in an election Beijing framed as a choice between war and peace. …

In the run-up to the election, China denounced Lai as a dangerous separatist, saying that any moves towards Taiwan’s formal independence meant war, and rebuffed Lai’s calls for talks.

Lai says he is committed to preserving peace and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and boosting the island’s defences.

[I’d call that ‘self-determination,’ and it certainly looks rational. If Beijing wanted a respectful reunification, they would have acted much differently with Hong Kong several years ago. Taiwan doesn’t want the Hong Kong treatment, and they are far more prepared to resist it. What’s interesting, though, is Beijing’s failure at infiltrating Taiwan’s political system. — Ed]