The defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong’s communists who founded the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen said in her New Year’s address that the island’s relations with China must be decided by the “will of the Taiwanese people”. Taiwan’s Republic of China-founding Kuomintang party (KMT) has traditionally favoured warmer ties with Beijing – though it denies being pro-China. China’s businesses are struggling and job seekers have trouble finding work, edition.cnn.com Jan 1 cited Xi as acknowledging in his address. Lai’s election rivals include Hou Yu-ih from the more China-friendly Kuomintang party, and Ko Wen-je from the Taiwan People’s Party.

Source: CNN January 02, 2024 00:56 UTC