President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan quits as head of the governing Democratic Progressive Party after loss in election

The vote in Taiwan has drawn global attention because the loss of President Tsai Ing-wen could become a bigger geopolitical flashpoint between China and the United States. Tsai Ing-wen resigned as head of the governing Democratic Progressive Party after its poor performance in local elections. The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) won major races including the capital Taipei. Prior to the election, President Tsai had described the election as a vote for democracy amid rising tensions with China. After the results came out, she admitted that - "the election results were not as expected... I should shoulder all the responsibility and I resign as DPP chairwoman immediately.” However, she will continue as president of the self-ruled island. These elections for local councils and city mayors theoretically have a domestic agenda and focused on local issues such as crime, housing and social welfare. Those elected will not have a direct say on Taiwan's policy regarding China. However, Ms Tsai and government officials had urged voters to use the elections to send a message about standing up for democracy, as Beijing increases pressure on the island. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen quits as party chair after local elections. The Chinese government perceives Taiwan as a breakaway province that will, in due course of time, be part of the country.

A large section of Taiwanese people considers their self-ruled island to be distinct. It has its own form of government and a democratic system. However, tensions peaked in August when Beijing staged huge military drills around Taiwan. It was in a protest against the visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island. The US has long walked a tightrope over Taiwan. Officially, it does not have any formal ties with Taiwan. In spite of that, it has also pledged to supply the island with defensive weapons and stressed that any attack by China would cause "grave concern." Taiwan has two major political parties. Their views differ on China. One of these is the Kuomintang (KMT). It consists of conservative business champions and traditionally seen as pro-China "doves." They advocate economic engagement with China and appear to favor unification while denying being pro-China. Their main rival is Ms Tsai's governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). She had won a landslide victory in the 2020 national election. Her stand is Beijing needs to show respect to Taiwan. She also said Taipei would not bow to pressure.

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China hurls accusations at the United States on the Taiwan issue

Taiwan came center stage in the sidelines of the recent United Nations General Assembly in New York. The focus of talks between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, was Taiwan. During the nearly 90 minutes of talks, described as “direct and honest,” China accused the United States of sending “very wrong, dangerous signals” with relation to Taiwan. The Chinese side also added that Washington had “no right to interfere” in how Beijing wants to “resolve” the issue. The American said it was important to maintenance peace and stability across the Strait. However, China insists that the issue pertaining to Taiwan is an internal matter of China and the United States should not interfere. US sending ‘dangerous signals’ on Taiwan, China tells Blinken. Tensions over Taiwan increased subsequent to a visit in August by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Subsequently, China conducted large-scale military drills in the region. More recently, US President Joe Biden pledged to defend the island that is governed democratically.

The foreign ministry of China had a similar message for foreign minister James Cleverly of the United Kingdom. This was also on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York. The message was that the UK should “honour its one-China commitment and unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence.’ China looks at Taiwan as one of its provinces and wants to bring it under its control. The government of Taiwan objects to the sovereignty claims of China and says it is up to the people to decide its future. Incidentally, Chinese leader Xi Jinping talked to Joe Biden in July over the phone and said - “those who play with fire will perish by it.” There are possibilities that the two leaders could meet on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in November.

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Taiwan shoots down civilian drone near China

Tension between Taiwan and China heightens as Taiwan shit down a drone off the coast of China. It flew over a Taiwanese-controlled island. Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang described it as an appropriate action in spite of repeated warnings. It seems the unidentified civilian drone entered the airspace of Taiwan. The incident happened near the outlying Kinmen islands very close to Xiamen city of China. Taiwan’s military confirms that it shot down the drone after it entered restricted airspace near the tiny Shiyu (Lion) islet. It later crashed into the sea. The Premier of Taiwan told media persons that Taiwan had repeatedly issued warnings and “asked them not to encroach on our doorstep.” However, they ignored the warnings. As a result, the military shot it down in self-defense. The Premier added that China should exercise restraint. In his words - “We will never provoke, and we will do the most appropriate thing to protect our land and our people.” Taiwan premier says drone shot down near China was ‘appropriate’. The foreign ministry of China accused Taiwan of trying to increase tension.

The Kinmen Defense Command mentioned that in spite of firing flares and warning shots, the drone maintained its position. The drone was meant for “civilian” use. There is no mention of its recovery or how it was brought own. Taiwan occupies three of the islands off the coast of the Chinese port city of Xiamen. Incidents of drones hovering over these islands had increased. The Taiwanese military says there have been hundreds of aerial incursions by Chinese military aircraft into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. These have taken place so far this year. Tension between Taipei and Beijing went up following the recent visit of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. China responded by conducting live-fire military drills for more than a week in the waters around the island. President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan gave orders to the military to take “strong countermeasures” against what she termed Chinese provocations.

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Hong Kong police use batons and pepper spray, protesters fend off with umbrellas

The fight for democracy rages in Hong Kong and while the police are using batons and pepper sprays to disperse the crowd, the protesters are defending themselves with umbrellas news.sky.com. As a result, the 9000-strong crowd managed to put the police on the back foot and they retreated.
Once the police moved away, the activists reoccupied their protest camp and rebuild makeshift barricades from packing crates and fences in an area of the Mong Kok district – the police had cleared the area to traffic just hours before.
Reports indicate that at least 33 people were arrested in the skirmishes, while 18 officers were among the injured. The protests, calling for fully free elections and the resignation of the territory's leader, Leung Chun-ying, have been going on for three weeks.
The latest incident of unrest has come just hours after Mr Leung had offered to hold talks with student leaders next week in an attempt to defuse the protests. As informed by his chief secretary, the duration of the talks would be of two hours.
Incidentally, China wants that the person who would replace Mr Leung in elections in 2017 must be vetted by a committee that is expected to be loyal to Beijing.