Taiwan’s Domestic Politics: Protests, Elections, and Implications

Amid the protests and partisan political fighting in Taiwan, the two main political camps continue to seek short-term advantage for the upcoming Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral elections on December 9. Deep-seated disagreement over national identity, political reform, the economy, and relations with China continue to motivate these political battles, and compromise appears unlikely.

On November 7, the Brookings Institution’s Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies (CNAPS) hosted a discussion with leading experts who will examine Taiwan’s political conflict and its implications for the upcoming mayoral elections and cross-strait relations. The event was moderated by CNAPS Director Richard Bush, and featured discussions by leading experts on Taiwan’s domestic politics and international relations.