[philippe]

The KMT is back in power in Taiwan as it was expected. It should not be a surprise since the KMT have been in bed with Beijing for quite a while now.

Note: I think the idea that Beijing can pretty much have any president of their liking elected a bit scary for democracy but that's just me.

I am bit amused by this twist of history. When the focus seems to be in Tibet at the moment (another lost cause IMHO) the general opinion seems to ignore the fact that sooner rather than later Taiwan will be annexed by the Mainland. Again some may say "oh but it would not be as bad as Tibet after all, Taiwan is Chinese Land not like Tibet where Tibetans are from another ethnic group entirely".

This is far from being true.
Native Taiwanese are Austronesians not Chinese (the singer Ah-Mei for example as opposed to Teresa Tang). Taiwan was claimed and colonized by the Dutch who called the island Formosa in the 17th century (major powers wanted a foot in the region the Portugese took Macau and British the Hong Kong rock as we know it). The Ming Dinasty and later The Qing Dinasty controlled Taiwan from 1662 to 1895 where the island fell under Japanese control. With the defeat of Japan and the victory of the CCP in the Mainland the KMT forces had no way to go and they invaded Taiwan in 1949 free of the Japanese occupation.

Few people know that the KMT was in fact founded by the father of Modern China: Dr Sun Yat Sen. Chiang Kai Shek (his brother in law) took control of the KMT after the death of Sun Yat Sen in 1925. Chiang betrayed Sun Yat Sen ideal and turned against the CCP only to be defeated by Mao Zedong red army (the PLA).

Interesting that now the KMT is supporting Beijing betraying both Chiang Kai Shek ideal and the Taiwanese people in the process.

[KnowItAll]

Well several ways to skin a cat .. at the end of the day, any place that calls itself a democracy can only blame its population for the leaders that are elected.

As much as the Taiwanese might blame Beijing or the Americans might blame Chad, the fact is, not enough people voted for or against the candidates they wanted in place.

[HKFella]

Originally Posted by philippe

Note: I think the idea that Beijing can pretty much have any president of their liking elected a bit scary for democracy but that's just me.

Well, at least the three previous elections they failed to - each time it was the person particularly despised by them who won: and twice their attempts to "dissuade" the Taiwan people from voting for such candidate backfired and got them a strong majority vote instead (Lee Teng Hui -/KMT missiles lobbed over island; Chen Shui Bian /DPP - finger wagging warning from Zhu Rongji). Chen's reelection was a much closer affair (shooting incident helped) and this year the mainland leadership basically stayed on the sidelines, and let the Taiwanese people's disillusionment with Chen and DPP run its course.