Cross-Straits tensions may continue despite the surprise defeat
of Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's pro-independence coalition in
Saturday's "legislative" elections.
Yesterday leading mainland researchers described the losses for
Chen's coalitionĀ as a major setback rather than a decisive
blow.
"The key issue here is whether Chen will stop his
pro-independence push or forge ahead with his separatist timetable
after the polls," said Wu Nengyuan, commenting on the losses
suffered by Chen's pan-green camp coalition of the ruling
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Taiwan Solidarity Union.
Wu is director of the Fujian Academy of Social Sciences' Institute
of Modern Taiwan Studies.
"If he takes more radical steps to challenge the mainland, new
tensions will be inflamed across the Straits," said Wu,
The pan-green camp, which had been widely favored to wrest an
absolute majority in the 225-seat "legislative yuan," won only 101
seats.
The opposition pan-blue camp led by the Kuomintang (KMT) netted
a total of 114 seats, including those awarded to the People First
Party and New Party. KMT members who ran as independents garnered
two more seats.
Wu said, "Given his obstinate insistence on advocating
independence, Chen may intensify his pushing of a separatist
timetable."
Senior researcher Li Jiaquan of the Chinese Academy of Social
Sciences' Institute of Taiwan Studies said that Saturday's poll
demonstrates the Taiwanese people's growing dissatisfaction with
Chen's pro-independence moves.
(China Daily December 13, 2004)