Post-Mortem Analysis of Taiwan Elections

choi

(1) Damian Grammaticas, China Eyes Taiwan's Election Freedoms. Xi Jinping - China's next president? Probably, but not by popular election Gazing out of my window trying to make out the skyscrapers of central Beijing today is a bit like trying to divine the thoughts of China's leaders. Not easy. BBC, Jan 17, 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16599678
("Interestingly China's censors allowed the comments to be posted and circulated online. Chinese TV and radio coverage of Taiwan's vote was much more closely controlled.")

Note: murk (n; Middle English mirke, probably from Old Norse myrkr darkness): "GLOOM, DARKMESS; also: fog"
www.m-w.com

(2) Jonathan Manthorpe, Washington, Beijing's Relief Over Taiwan Election Will Be Temporary. Vancouver Sun, Jan 17, 2012.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news ... /6006448/story.html

Note:
(a) abstruse (adj; Latin abstrusus, from past participle of abstrudere to conceal, from abs-, ab- + trudere to push):
"difficult to comprehend : RECONDITE <the abstruse calculations of mathematicians>"
(b) ab- (prefix): "from : away : off <abaxial>"

(3) Andrew Jacobs, Taiwan Election Stirs Hopes Among Chinese for Democracy. new York Times, Jan 17, 2012.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/1 ... -for-democracy.html

(4) Philip bowring, Taiwan's Economic Tunnel Vision; Newly re-elected President Ma Ying-jeou should cast his gaze beyond China. Wall street journal Asia, Jan 17, 2012 (op-ed)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB ... ?mod=googlenews_wsj

Quote:

"A defensive, inward-looking Taiwan busy arguing about its identity has failed so far to take advantage of its position as an open, trade-based economy with close historical links to the U.S. and Japan and a strategic location.

"Failure to exploit these advantages was long blamed on the absence of cross-Strait links, particularly after China emerged as a major player. But the creation of those links by the Ma government has exposed the fact that other forces are thwarting Taiwan's growth.

"The biggest problem is protectionism.

"While Mr. Ma has talked up mainland commercial deals, relations with the US have been on hold because of a partial ban on U.S. beef imports imposed in a frenzy of concern over possible mad-cow disease. What folly. There is no science to support the ban

(5) Ralph Jennings, Taiwan President's Reelection Signals Easing Tensions with Beijing. VOA, Jan 17, 2012.
http://www.voanews.com/tibetan-e ... jing-137427648.html

Note: Mr Jennings is a free lancer.

(6) dennis V Hickey, Breathing Easier on Taiwan; Ma Ying-jeou's reelection lowers the chances for new tensions with mainland China. But that doesn't mean U.S. support for Taiwan is unnecessary. Los Angeles Times, Jan 17, 2012 (op-ed).
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-hickey-taiwan-20120117,0,2338656.story?track=rss

(7) Luo Yuan-shao, Tsao Yu-fan and Elizabeth Hsu, Not Recognizing Taiwan a Mistake: French Parliamentarian. CNA, Jan 17, 2012.
http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/W ... amp;ID=201201170022
(Francois Loncle was in Taiwan to observe the presidential and legislative elections)

(8) Jens Kastner, Taiwan's Opposition Licks Its Wounds. Asia Times Online, Jan 17, 2012.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/NA18Ad01.html

Quote:

"With the public's will expressed so unequivocally, it seems Ma and his government will enjoy a four-year term without major adversaries to be reckoned with - outside the KMT. The results have thrown the DPP into a deep crisis, with the party seemingly fighting a losing battle.

With resignation of Ms Tsai Ing-wen, "A charismatic rising star to fill her shoes at the DPP is conspicuous by his or her absence.

"'If the DPP ever wants to return to power, it must take the secret alliance between Washington and Beijing seriously. Because those two have plotted a trade-off to control Taiwan", he [Chen In-Chin, a professor at Taiwan's National Central University] alleged.

My comment: Most if not all of Atimes.com contributors are free lancers, including Mr Kastner who often reflects views of Taiwan's green.