Taiwan and China: Olympian Task

Taiwan is about to choose a new president at a very tricky time internationally and on the island. Voters have just given a resounding thumbs down to the current incumbent by electing the opposition to parliament with an overwhelming majority – partly a rejection of the cynical use of policies to increase tension with mainland China for electoral purposes. And Beijing itself has the difficult task of welcoming Olympics athletes from Taiwan without upsetting feelings on either side of the Strait. Tension may ease after the races are run, but in the meantime, polling on March 22 will decide Taiwan’s direction and how far improvements in cross-Strait relations can go in the next four years.