East Asia Watch: Why dried mango is all the rage in Taiwan's election season

Cross-strait ties are a key issue in the coming presidential and legislative elections, with candidates warning starkly that victory for their opponents will spell the end of Taiwan as the people know it today

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One trendy word that has emerged in the lead-up to next month's presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan is "mangguogan" or "dried mango", a popular snack among Taiwanese.

But the underlying meaning has little to do with mangoes, a major agricultural product of the island.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 24, 2019, with the headline East Asia Watch: Why dried mango is all the rage in Taiwan's election season. Subscribe