TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The world was on watch for Taiwan's 9-in-1 elections on Saturday (Nov. 26). Foreign media, however, focused their attention on cross-strait relations, as many viewed this election as a "mid-term" test for President Tsai Ing-wen, a test to see if the people of Taiwan are satisfied with the current Democratic Progressive Party administration.
In response to questions from TVBS News, Brent O'Halloran, a reporter for Sky News, said: " I did a press briefing earlier this week with Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. And I think 80 media outlets had RSVPed to that. So that gives you an indication of the international spotlight that's on these elections."
He added: "They're viewing through a geopolitical lens, so they're looking very much at the international implications, particularly concerning cross-strait tensions. How each candidate views Beijing in the recent escalation of tensions between Beijing and Taipei."
Eryk Bagshaw, a reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald, looked forward to finding "how much emphasis the DPP has put on nationalism, national security, the defense of democracy against China. That whole narrative is a national political one, but they've put it on the local elections and emphasized it, and I think it will be a real test to see just how much sway that narrative still has."
Taiwan has again found itself in the world spotlight, this time for the 9-in-1 elections. The voting results, however, saw a clear shift in citizens' support for the main opposition party, the KMT.
