As recent events point out, Taiwan has a long way to go towards changing its views about its own standing in the world. Becoming globally relevant is not only a matter of the economy and diplomacy, but it is a matter of identity.
On Saturday 16th January, more than 20,000 ardent supporters crammed outside DPP headquarters in Taipei to hear Tsai Ing-wen’s first speech as Taiwan’s President-Elect.
The DPP would be better off running its own city councilors or famous and charismatic pan-greens in Taipei’s districts from now on…Not only would these candidates with closer ideological affinity be much easier to cooperate with after taking office, they may even be more electable.
What we need is not one small party after another calling themselves the Third Force. What we need is to build Taiwan’s new post-war political society, what I call the Third Society.
There is a sea change going on in Taiwan’s politics and the country is looking for a new paradigm. I think a higher percentage of the population will opt for a new party over the two old, tired ones, than most people expect.