At a talk with university students last month, Taiwan opposition candidate Hou Yu-ih was pushed to define a cornerstone of U.S.-China relations that¡¯s maintained peace on his island for decades.
Instead of outlining the contours of Washington¡¯s one-China policy, the mayor and former policeman avoided the question by citing the need to follow the constitution. ¡°The relationship between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is clear. We don¡¯t need to get it confused,¡± he added.
His failure to articulate a critical policy at the bedrock of Taiwan¡¯s international status drew widespread criticism online. It also reflected a key voter concern, namely that Hou lacks the expertise to lead in one of the biggest geopolitical flashpoints in the rivalry between Washington and Beijing.
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