An agonizing dilemma for Tsai

While many leaders of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are praising Chen Chu, the DPP mayor of Kaohsiung, for her “courageous” performance in confronting the Communists in Beijing, latest opinion polls indicate the following: 62 percent of the respondents approved of Chen's trip to China, 51 percent supported a visit to the mainland by Tsai Ing-wen, the chairwoman of the DPP, 55 percent believed the DPP should adjust its mainland policy, including 53 percent of the “pan-green” followers, and 63 percent opposed the DPP criticism that President Ma Ying-jeou's mainland position is tantamount to “selling out” Taiwan. It is unmistakably clear that the current general mood of the people of Taiwan favors a more liberal policy toward Beijing as practiced by Ma.

Here is the political dilemma for Tsai: If she chooses to follow the mainstream opinion in Taiwan, she will have to be more open on China and may be obliged to pay a visit to Beijing under a pretext just as Chen did. But, if she does so, she will definitely risk incurring the wrath of the deep “green” supporters who form the core of the DPP. Either way, the stakes are high for her and the party's future. (William Fang, China Post)