Tsai Ing-wen – Picture by newsnation.in
By Baron Henri Estramant.
Tsai Ing-wen was sworn as the new President of China (Taiwan) on May 20, 2016; thus becoming its first female head of state amidst calls for a “positive dialogue” with Beijing.
President Tsai Ing-wen deemed as unassuming yet determined leader, led the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to a landslide electoral victory in January 2016.
The DPP has traditionally leaned towards “independence” from the whole of China because it views the country as entirely unique vis-à-vis the mainland, or People’s Republic of China (PRC). The two countries co-exist under the fiction that the Republic of China (Taiwan) represents the “legitimate” and republican system for the whole of China, whereas the PRC views Taiwan as a separate province with its own system similarly to Hong Kong or Macau.
China (Taiwan) is not an UN member since 1971 when its seat was occupied by the PRC, and nowadays enjoys the recognition of but 21 UN members and the Holy See. Nevertheless many countries, particularly European, entertain relations with Taiwan through representative offices or consulates.
For more information:
President of China (Taiwan): http://english.president.gov.tw
Taipei Representative Office in the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg: http://web.roc-taiwan.org/be_en/index.html
Taipei Representative Office to The Netherlands: http://web.roc-taiwan.org/nl_nl/index.html
