"Taiwanese want to peacefully coexist with mainland China, travel and do business there, but don't see themselves as part of it," King said. At home, Tsai faces an economy that has fallen into a recession as exports have dropped due to sluggish demand from China and elsewhere. In the same vein, China has sought to marginalize Taiwan's participation in international arenas. Relations with China also play into Tsai's challenges in revitalizing the Taiwanese economy, which is heavily dependent on trade with the mainland. In April, a meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's steel committee ejected a Taiwanese delegation after China complained.

Source: New Zealand Herald May 19, 2016 06:18 UTC