Politics

  by Crystal Tai Taiwan's ruling party, the Kuomintang denies that Taiwan is teetering on the brink of recession. The party's Executive Secretary, Shao Ping-yun cited statistics that Taiwan's standing in the Asian market remains number one, even though economic growth has stayed at an average of 2.81% between 2008 and 2014. "Taiwan's economy is not stagnating under the Kuomintang's rule. It is topping the world," he said in a news conference to Hong Kong Baptist University students in Taipei. But he later added that the 2008 financial crisis has weakened Taiwan's economy. "Taiwan is just one of the countries that suffers from the impact of the global financial crisis. Kuomintang has already done its best in the midst of it," Mr Shao says. His comments are in stark contrast to the pessimistic outlook shared by many Taiwanese. According to Taiwan's CommonWealth Magazine's 2016 State of the Nation Survey, 41% of the respondents thought that a weak economy topped the list of challenges in society. But the Democratic Progressive Party accuses the Kuomintang of failing to react to Taiwan's economic woes. "Our economy is highly dependent on China and our policies fail to save our weakening economy. We should diversify our industry to decrease our dependency," the DPP's Deputy Director of Department of Youth Development Huang Shou-ta, said in a briefing to the students. The parties' comments come just days ahead of Taiwan's presidential election. The economy and cross-Strait relations are widely debated issues throughout the campaign.  

by Crystal Tai Taiwan presidential candidate, Tsai Ing-wen faces allegations that she received a NT$450 million donation from an economic fugitive. Former legislator, Chiu Yi claimed in a news conference on Tuesday that the money came from Huang Fang-yen, the doctor of the wife of disgraced former president Chen Shui-bian. Tsai, tipped to become Taiwan's first female president in Saturday's polls, has staunchly denied the allegations. Donations from Democratic Progressive Party supporters continue to arrive at the party's headquarters in Taipei in the form of money filled piggy banks. The Young Reporter talked to voters in Taipei say they are not fazed by the scandal. "I think the scandal is just a groundless accusation used by Kuomintang to attack Tsai Ing-wen," says Mr Chen, a shopper at the souvenir store at the DPP's headquarters. A young voter Ivory Fan-I Chia from the National Taiwan University says she does not believe Tsai would keep her promises in the campaign after the election but she would still vote for her. "The scandal would not change my stance. I'm not in favor of Tsai but Kuomintang has done such a bad job that I would not vote for them again," she says. Professor Benson Wong Wai-Kwok from the Department of Government and International Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University says that it's common for parties to attack each other in the final phase of the election. "Opposition parties or the KMT have no sufficient ground to challenge Tsai's abilities during the campaign.. The only way to attack Tsai is to put her in scandals in relation to her family like land rights issue so that neutral voters may not vote for her," he says. As the election campaign enters the final phase, presidential candidate Eric Chu Li-luan tries to placate public frustration with …

  Tsai Ing-wen expressed her deepest gratitude to all voters, including those who did not vote for her soon after winning the election. "Today the Taiwanese people have used their ballots to make history," she said. "We have now experienced the third transition of political power. For the first time there is also a transition of Taiwan's legislative majority." On relations with mainland China, she warned that any form of suppression will only harm the stability of cross-Strait ties. "Both sides of the Strait have the responsibility to find mutually acceptable means of interaction based on dignity and reciprocity," she said. "National identity is a right and should be normal. This is something that the international community should respect." She was referring to a public apology made by teenager pop star, Chou Tsu-yu. The girl waved the flag of Taiwan during a performance on Korean television. "The election results today show that the people of Taiwan enjoy freedom and democracy. As long as I am the president, no one should have to apologise for being Taiwanese." Tsai then addressed more than 30,000 people on the road outside the DPP's headquarters. "Tonight, we tell the world through out votes that Taiwan has democracy. There are winners and losers in an election, but democracy will always win," she said. "Also, I would like to give my gratitude to my two rivals, chairman Chu and chairman Soong. Here, I sincerely invite you two to work with me. The reform will not work without you," said Tsai. "Keeping our society stable and peaceful is my promise to Taiwanese residents and the world. As the president elect and chairwoman of the party, I will give the first order to my fellows here, which is, you should always remain humble." "Dignity, unity and confidence, this is …