What The Mainland Media Say | Eyes on frontrunner Tsai Ing-wen as Taiwan presidential poll may mark shift in ties with Beijing
Taiwan's election frontrunner has taken a pragmatic middle ground in her candidacy but Beijing remains unconvinced
With Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party looking likely to resume power in the upcoming presidential election, the challenge Beijing faces in maintaining its ties with Taiwan looms large once more.
Frontrunner DPP chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen's visit to Japan this week perfectly underscores this point.
Beijing expressed its strong opposition to Tsai's visit, accusing her of trying to promote Taiwan independence. State-affiliated commentary website China Review News warned: "Increasingly, cross-strait ties are no longer a family matter between Taiwan and mainland China."
Despite improved relations between the mainland and Taiwan under the island's pro-reunification Kuomintang, the pro-independence DPP's potential return to power poses a threat to Beijing, who fears it will seek closer political and military ties with Tokyo and Washington to check China.
Tsai, 58, who is leading by a large margin in opinion polls, is widely seen as poised to become Taiwan's first female president in the January 16 election.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned that cross-strait ties would be shaken if Taiwan did not accept the "One China" principle, built on the "political foundation" that Taiwan is part of China.
Under Xi, Beijing has adopted increasingly assertive diplomatic and security politics. The People's Liberation Army recently conducted a military drill launching a simulated attack on a building that closely resembled Taiwan's presidential office. It prompted analysts to jump to the conclusion that a military assault of the island could be in the works.
