Expected next leader of Taiwan won't be boxed in by summit tactic, analysts say
Democratic Progressive Party candidate Tsai Ing-wen is likely to resist the narrower path Kuomintang chief Ma Ying-jeoum is trying to lay down
The chairwoman of Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party, Dr Tsai Ing-wen, who is leading opinion polls to be the island’s next leader in January’s presidential election, is unlikely to be “boxed in” by pledges made by the island's incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou following his historic meeting with President Xi Jinping on Saturday .
Ma said on Thursday and at a press conference after the meeting in Singapore that a path had been opened for his successor – no matter if that person was from his Kuomintang party or the pro-independence DPP – to meet the mainland leader in future.
The opposition quickly seized upon the remark, with DPP candidate and chairwoman Tsai saying Ma was not in a position to frame Taiwan’s future, and he should not make promises that would ultimately fall to others to keep, Taiwan’s official Central News Agency reported.
“Beijing initiated the meeting [with Ma], which shows it is very nervous about the Kuomintang losing political power,” said Taiwan-based political commentator Wang Shing-ching. “Beijing has planned to set up a frame [for Ma’s successor].”
Beijing initiated the meeting [with Ma], which shows it is very nervous about the Kuomintang losing political power
The KMT is trailing in polls ahead of January’s election, after suffering a drubbing in local elections last year that saw many of its candidates – several of them household names – tossed out.
