China Fears Taiwan’s Democracy the Most, Island’s President Says in Election Pitch

(L-R) Taiwan's presidential candidates Tsai Ing-wen, James Soong Chu-yu and Han Kuo-yu pose before the first televised pre-election policy address in Taipei, Taiwan on Dec. 18, 2019. The Central Election Commission/Pool via Reuters

TAIPEI—What Communist Party rulers in China fear the most is Taiwan’s democracy, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Dec. 18, describing Beijing as a threat seeking every day to undermine Taiwan and criticizing her main opponent for being too close to China.

Tsai, who faces re-election on Jan. 11, has repeatedly warned of the danger posed to self-ruled Taiwan by China, which claims the island as its own territory to be brought under Beijing’s control by force if needed, a message Chinese leader Xi Jinping reiterated in January.