Taiwan’s Premier resigned on Saturday after his Beijing-friendly ruling party suffered a landslide defeat at the island’s biggest ever local elections, as public fears grow over China’s increasing influence.
In a brief resignation speech, Jiang Yi-huah said that he took “political responsibility” for the heavy losses suffered by the Kuomintang (KMT) party.The polls are seen as an important test ahead of the 2016 presidential race, with China policy a key issue.Official results showed the ruling KMT had lost in five out of Taiwan’s six large municipalities — the most hotly contested seats. Prior to the vote they had held four of them. Taiwan and China split in 1949 at the end of a civil war, but Beijing still claims the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.
Under the KMT, previously frosty ties between Beijing and Taipei have warmed, but there is public anxiety over the closer relationship.