Taiwan's new government will upset regional status quo

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Domestic Politics ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Democratic Progressive Party ◽  
Judicial Reform ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Truth And Reconciliation ◽  
Trade Blocs ◽  
Progressive Party ◽  
Female President

Subject The outlook for Taiwan under the new administration. Significance Tsai Ing-wen, leader of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was sworn in on May 20 as Taiwan's first female president and only its second leader not from the Kuomintang party, which has governed the island for all but eight years since 1945. In her inaugural address, Tsai outlined a five-point plan focused on reviving a stagnant economy, increasing social services for a rapidly aging population, and moving the export-driven economy away from a reliance on mainland China, Taiwan's largest market. Impacts Restructuring the economy will take time, and public pressure will build if global demand for exports does not rise quickly. Taiwan's bids to join regional trade blocs will meet resistance from China, which will press other countries to block it. Initiatives on judicial reform and 'truth and reconciliation' that discredit the Kuomintang will make domestic politics more acrimonious.

Taiwan election race stalls cross-Strait engagement

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Electoral Politics ◽  
Democratic Progressive Party ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Legislative Yuan ◽  
Progressive Party ◽  
Female President ◽  
Party Congress

Subject Electoral politics in Taiwan. Significance At the party congress of the ruling Kuomintang on June 19, Hung Hsiu-chu, deputy speaker of the Legislative Yuan, was formally recommended to represent the party in the presidential election on January 16, 2016. Hung will face Tsai Ing-wen, the chairwoman and presidential nominee of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 2012. Barring a strong showing by an independent candidate, Taiwan will elect its first female president in 2016. Impacts Cross-strait agreements will stall during the election season and are unlikely to progress quickly under a DPP administration. Taiwan-US relations will improve as a result of Washington's growing frustration with Beijing. Unlike last time, Tsai will not face the perception that Washington favours the Kuomintang. A Tsai presidency would mean less business-friendly economic policies and moves toward decommissioning Taiwan's nuclear power plants. However, the Kuomintang is likely to retain control of the legislature, which would curtail Tsai's power considerably.

Deportations signal new era of China-Taiwan tension

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mainland China ◽  
Immediate Release ◽  
International Community ◽  
Democratic Progressive Party ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Era ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Political Message ◽  
Progressive Party

Significance The incident sparked a diplomatic row between China, which is thought to have pressured the Kenyan government to deport the Taiwanese nationals to the mainland, and Taiwan, which accused China of "extrajudicial abduction" and demanded their immediate release. Impacts The incident represents a display of China's sway in the international community with a pointed political message. Public distrust of China, already high in Taiwan, will rise further. China's handling of the incident will fuel a trend toward greater reluctance among Taiwanese to work in mainland China. The Democratic Progressive Party will use the incident to further its Sino-sceptic agenda in parliament, which it now controls. Cross-Strait cooperation on cross-border crime is likely to see modest progress following the incident.

Party coup changes Taiwan election outlook

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Trade Agreements ◽  
Democratic Progressive Party ◽  
Legislative Elections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Progressive Party

Significance Eric Chu, the party chairman, was nominated to replace Hung Hsiu-chu, whose candidacy failed to rally support within the party. He will run against Tsai Ing-wen, leader of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party. Impacts Cross-Strait relations will once again play the central role in the 2016 presidential and legislative elections. The Kuomintang's diplomatic stance will shift toward the DPP's in an attempt to assuage concerns over cross-Strait policy. Although Tsai has promised not to undo trade agreements with China, she is unlikely to press ahead with new ones. China will remain largely silent on the Taiwanese elections, to avoid reinforcing anti-China sentiment that is widespread in Taiwan.

Taiwan-China city-level ties bypass central government

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Central Government ◽  
National Level ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
Democratic Progressive Party ◽  
Local Elections ◽  
National Elections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
National Governments ◽  
Progressive Party

Subject Relations between sub-national governments in Taiwan and China. Significance China is attempting to bypass Taiwan’s central government -- with which it has severed formal ties -- and forge better relations with major municipalities and locally elected leaders. These efforts have found greater success since recent local elections that dealt major setbacks to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Impacts Politicians from both parties will be emboldened to turn to Chinese investment to stimulate local economies. Han Kuo-yu, newly elected mayor of Kaohsiung city, could lead the main opposition party’s comeback at the national level. Relations with China are likely to play a decisive role once again in Taiwan’s 2020 national elections.

Malawi’s Mutharika faces poll dispute storm

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Electoral System ◽  
Vice President ◽  
Power Sharing ◽  
Democratic Progressive Party ◽  
Court Cases ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Legal Challenges ◽  
Elite Level ◽  
The Government ◽  
Progressive Party

Significance Incumbent President Peter Mutharika of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) narrowly won re-election, ahead of the main opposition candidates, Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and former Vice-President Saulos Chilima of the United Transformation Movement (UTM). The elections were marred by accusations of rigging, and both Chakwera and Chilima have launched court cases to overturn the result amid sizable post-poll protests. Impacts The opposition has ruled out power-sharing, but this may re-emerge as a compromise option should legal challenges fail. Opposition and civil society groups will increase calls for an amendment to the electoral system, with likely increased public backing. International donors will maintain pressure on the government over persistent budget overruns and elite-level corruption.

Malawi’s Mutharika may struggle to be re-elected

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Electoral Reform ◽  
Democratic Progressive Party ◽  
Cholera Outbreak ◽  
Content Type ◽  
People's Party ◽  
The Past ◽  
Northern Regions ◽  
The Government ◽  
Progressive Party

Subject Pressured Malawian president Significance Recurring corruption crises over the past year have seen President Peter Mutharika and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)’s popularity decline. Despite such travails, the DPP has recently attempted to consolidate its hold on parliament by co-opting members of the opposition People’s Party (PP). This comes soon after rebel PP members controversially supported DPP efforts to defeat an electoral reform bill that would have weakened Mutharika’s 2019 re-election hopes. Impacts The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) will receive intensified overtures from the main parties ahead of the 2019 poll. Despite the recent parliamentary setbacks, a civil society push for electoral reform is unlikely to subside. Failure properly to combat a cholera outbreak in the Central and Northern regions would put further pressure on the government.

Focus of Taiwan-China diplomatic contest will change

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Common Ground ◽  
Democratic Progressive Party ◽  
Diplomatic Relations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sao Tome And Principe ◽  
Island State ◽  
The Government ◽  
Economic Necessity ◽  
Progressive Party

Subject Taiwan's 'diplomatic contest' with China. Significance Panama announced on June 12 that it was switching diplomatic relations from Taiwan to China, reducing the number of Taiwan’s diplomatic partners to 20. Panama is the second country to sever relations with Taipei since Tsai Ing-wen of the China-sceptic Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) became Taiwanese president in May last year. In late December, the small African island state of Sao Tome and Principe also switched recognition. Impacts Attitudes toward China in Taiwan will harden, but economic necessity will require Taipei to seek some common ground. As the next election approaches in 2020, the government will feel more pressure to be pragmatic towards China. China will be disinclined to cooperate, hoping that the China-friendly opposition will oust the current China-sceptic government.

Tsai will strengthen Taiwan's defence capabilities

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mainland China ◽  
The United States ◽  
Democratic Progressive Party ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Defence Budget ◽  
Defence Spending ◽  
Defence Policy ◽  
Major Shift ◽  
The Taiwan Strait ◽  
The Military

Subject Taiwan's defence policy. Significance Taiwan's new president, Tsai Ing-wen, has signalled a major shift in national defence policy. She aims to boost the overall defence budget to 3% of GDP (from 2% currently) and strengthen the domestic arms industry. Tsai hails from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which traditionally favours permanent de jure independence from mainland China. Impacts Tsai will tread carefully on sensitive sovereignty issues, trying to avoid provoking China even while raising defence spending. Chinese pressure will constrain Taiwan's ability to secure investment and cooperation on defence projects (except from the United States). Washington will press Taiwan for higher defence budgets and offer access to advanced technologies and weapons. The military balance in the Taiwan Strait will shift further in China's favour. Taiwan will find more support in Washington and Tokyo for inclusion in regional defence architecture.

Pension reform boosts credibility of Taiwan government

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Pension Fund ◽  
Pension Reform ◽  
Democratic Progressive Party ◽  
Local Elections ◽  
Demographic Ageing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pension Liabilities ◽  
The Military ◽  
Progressive Party

Subject Public sector pension reform in Taiwan. Significance Sweeping public service pension reforms took effect this month after years of contentious debate and failed attempts by successive governments. The reforms affect civil servants, teachers and military personnel. Public sector pension liabilities over the next three decades had risen to 18 trillion Taiwan dollars (590 billion US dollars). Government projections predicted bankruptcy for the military pension fund by 2020, the teachers’ pension fund by 2030 and the civil servant pension fund by 2031. The reforms will affect about 333,000 people. Impacts The reform will remain in the spotlight as parties campaign for local elections in November, probably to Tsai's benefit. Achieving this reform will help Tsai brand her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as the 'party of the future'. Rapid demographic ageing in the decades ahead will place other strains on fiscal resources.

Inbound international student policies in China: a historical perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-183
Author(s):  
Wen Wen
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Education ◽  
International Student ◽  
Domestic Politics ◽  
Student Mobility ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Higher Education System

Purpose Policies regarding international student enrollment represents diversified responses and attitudes on internationalization of higher education, which is associated not only to the internal reforms of the higher education system but also to the adjustment of government-institution relationships in larger contexts of economic development, and cultural and diplomatic strategies. The purpose of this paper is therefore to analyze the trend of the mainland China’s inbound international student mobility during the past decades in the broader context of the country’s diplomatic and domestic political circumstances. Design/methodology/approach By using a historical and holistic approach, this paper identifies four stages of the development of international education for inbound international students, and examines the underpinning ideologies or motives of the trend. Findings Findings of this research suggestthat different from the triumph of other Asian countries in international education, neo-liberalism has inserted a very limited impact to the development of international education of the mainland China, mainly at the micro level; the main motive of international education in China is to serve its domestic politics and diplomacy. A type of new nationalism is emerging in China’s recent global strategy. Originality/value This paper responds to the broader discussion of natioanlism vs internationalism by looking at the complex relationship between the state, international relations, and higher education institutions.

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