New | Taiwan faces tough choices balancing between mainland China and United States as presidential poll looms
Taiwanese opposition front-runner Tsai Ing-wen will have to strike a difficult balance between Beijing and Washington if she wins the presidential race
As the United States’ pending arms sales to Taiwan renews tensions between Washington and Beijing over one of the most sensitive issues in bilateral ties, the island is reminded of the difficult geopolitical choices it will have to make when its people elect a new government and legislature next month.
The corner will be even tighter for opposition leader and presidential frontrunner Tsai Ing-wen.
READ MORE: Eyes on frontrunner Tsai Ing-wen as Taiwan presidential poll may mark shift in ties with Beijing
Many on mainland China are already expecting bumpy cross-strait relations under the China-sceptic Tsai, once seen by Beijing as a “splittist” troublemaker.
But analysts say a list of tricky questions will require the Democratic Progressive Party leader to make more careful, pragmatic calculations in managing the island’s ties with Beijing and Washington.
The challenge is that China and US would both want to draw Taiwan closer
The need to revive the island’s stagnated economy, analysts say, will see Tsai trying not to rock the cross-strait boat.
