Taiwan’s choice The Sunflower Movement, who will win the presidential election, and what the outcome will mean for Taiwan's relationship with China MARK HARRISON PHOTO: tenz1225 About the Author Mark Harrison Dr Mark Harrison is Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies in the School of Humanities at the University of Tasmania. Also by this Author See All You might also like Share More Republish GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNANCE, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, NATIONAL SECURITY | ASIA, EAST ASIA, THE WORLD JULY 2015 The Sunflower Movement in Taiwan shows that the most important rethinking of 21st Century democratic politics is happening in the Chinese- speaking world, presenting a significant challenge for whoever wins January’s election, Mark Harrison writes. In January 2016, after a tumultuous period in its island politics, Taiwan will go to the polls to elect a new president. The election will be shaped by the international achievements and domestic failures of the two terms of President Ma Ying-jeou (泷᝕Ԝ), the stresses in the politics and economy of mainland China, the renewed focus of the United States on east Asia, and the remaking of democratic politics by a new generation of young Taiwanese activists. The election is currently being contested by Tsai Ing-wen (ᠧ᝕෈), from the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and Hung Hsiu-chu (ၒᐹ) from the ruling Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). A third candidate standing, such as veteran politician Soong Chu-yu(ਟ༩ቲ) from the People’s First Party, is also a possibility between now and the election. Tsai Ing-wen is running for the second time. She led an unsuccessful campaign in 2012 against the current KMT president Ma Ying-jeou. Then, Tsai did much to rebuild DPP confidence after the acrimony of the last DPP presidency under Chen Shui-bian (檔࿜ಆ) from 2000 to 2008 and she focused her campaign on the domestic economy and social justice. However, she did not have a credible China policy and the United States made its lack of trust in the DPP known by briefing against her in the international media. MARK HARRISON