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Big trouble in Little Taiwan? Our experts weigh in.

Jan 8, 2019

2 min

It won’t be just America that faces a heated and high-stakes election in 2020, the small country of Taiwan is also at political cross-roads and its future could hang in the balance.

To look back, just over two years ago, the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won a major victory in both the presidential and the legislative elections over the Nationalist Party or Kuomintang (KMT) in Taiwan.

KMT’s pro-China approach was thoroughly rejected by voters.

However, recent elections saw a serious shift back in opinions toward the KMT’s favor, delivering a severe blow to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

In a recent Financial Times piece, added her perspective.

“Elizabeth Freund Larus, a Taiwan expert at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, said China would probably seek to capitalize on a series of DPP losses in local elections in November to sow discontent among Taiwanese and boost support for the China-friendly opposition party, the Kuomintang, ahead of the 2020 presidential election. “China’s leaders are like sharks in the water: they smell blood,” she said.” Taiwan seeks to bolster international support after China threats (Financial Times)

So, what lies ahead for Taiwan?

Will China meddle or push for KMT support?
Can it be stopped?
Will there be international support against Chinese interference?
How will China react?
And is this a political hot potato that could play into the upcoming US primaries and elections?

There’s a lot out there that just not known, and that’s where our experts can help.

Elizabeth Larus is a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and is an #expert on China and the field of Asian studies. She is available to speak to media regarding this topic – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview.

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Elizabeth Larus

Professor, Political Science

Dr. Larus is an expert in the politics of China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong

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