Cross-Strait Relations: Skepticism Abounds

Whether the issue is internal splits within Taiwan’s two major political parties or Beijing’s view of the parties and their leaders, the predominating mood today is skepticism. Not only have Tsai Ing-wen’s poll numbers continued to drop (including among Democratic Progressive Party supporters), she also faces increasing pressure from the Mainland. And although Wu Den-yih successfully assumed chairmanship of the badly riven Kuomintang, he did so in part by reverting to Ma Ying-jeou’s carefully crafted cross-Strait policy, generating doubts from an increasingly demanding Beijing about the depth of his commitment to “one China.” Finally, as it strengthens ties with Taiwan, even the United States has shown some frustration with Taipei as well as Beijing about the need to do more to promote cross-Strait dialogue.