China set to intensify reunification push after Taiwan polls

Xi determined to begin talks with island to achieve this end during his watch: Sources

Beijing has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949, when Chiang Kai-shek's KMT, or Nationalist, troops fled to the island after losing the civil war on the mainland to Mao Zedong's communist forces. PHOTO: REUTERS
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Taiwan's 2020 presidential election will be hotly contested and difficult to predict. But one thing is almost certain: Whoever wins will have to deal with the island's giant neighbour China and try to fend off intensified reunification overtures.

The self-ruled island, which Beijing claims as its own, is scheduled to hold its presidential election on Jan 11 next year, with incumbent Tsai Ing-wen of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) running for re-election against Mr Han Kuo-yu of the island's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and possibly Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, who may run as an independent.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 17, 2019, with the headline China set to intensify reunification push after Taiwan polls. Subscribe