What is at stake in Taiwan’s elections?
Outside of Taiwan, poll results could affect relations between the U.S. and China as well.
On Jan 14, people in Taiwan will head to the polls to elect a president. The politically heated race has pitted incumbent Ma Ying jeou, who has been strengthening economic ties with China, against opposition candidate Tsai Ing-wen, who is hoping to move the island nation towards less dependence on the communist nation.
China and the United States have been watching the events closely. The United States sells defensive weapons to Taiwan, as mandated by a 1979 congressional act that established bilateral relations, and China considers Taiwan a breakaway province.
In this episode, The Stream speaks with Russell Hsiao, a senior research fellow at the Project 2049 Institute; Michael Fonte, a liaison for Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party; and Ketty Chen, a professor at National Taiwan University.
What do you think? How will the election results affect relations between Taiwan, the U.S., and China? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using hashtag #AJStream.
These are some of the photos and videos featured in this episode of The Stream: