Taiwan is still in a mess. I have to say I’m quite impressed by how patriotic and enthusiastic or “nuts if you wanna paint it that way” the Taiwanese are over their politics.
I once remember a talk show by Yang Ming (famous Chinese presenter) on the state of tabloids in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In Hong Kong, the tabloids are centered amoung the celebrities and singers, in Taiwan, the tabloids are fixated on politicians. Whereas in China and Singapore, it is leaning towards the celebrities route.
Anyway, back to the political fiasco over there. Settling the issue fast will bring political stability and thus economic assurance. However, I suspect the damage has already been done and regardless of who ultimately wins after the recount if any, they will be bitterness and chaos.
Interestingly, China should be happy over the results of the referendum over Taiwan independence. Recently French and Chinese destroyers staged joint manoeuvres off the Chinese coast, the Chinese navy’s biggest ever with a foreign country, according to the Chinese press. Taiwan as usual expressed displeasure, but the exercise, as well as a goodwill port call to Shanghai by the command ship of America’s Pacific fleet in February, suggested that for all the rhetoric, there is little immediate risk of conflict. But who really can say?
