Taiwan’s upcoming presidential elections, suggests The Economist’s May 10th article “The Race Begins,” are messy and high-stakes. The unexpected (and capitulated) victory of former prime minister Frank Hsieh over favored Su Tseng-chang in the Democratic Progressive Party’s recent primary, and possible criminal investigations of Ma Ying-jeonu, Hsieh’s opponent in the Kuomintang Party, for embezzlement while mayor make the race a messy one. As he faces Ma, who advocates closer economic relations with China and entertains the idea of unification, Hsieh’s simultaneous calls for “coexistence and reconciliation” with China and greater sovereignty for a “normal” Taiwan, breaks with his party’s traditionally tougher stance towards China, make the election high-stakes for Taiwan, China, and the US.
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