China Holds Out Carrot Ahead of Taiwan Election, But Few Convinced

China Holds Out Carrot Ahead of Taiwan Election, But Few Convinced
Zhu Fenglian, the new spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, speaks at a news conference in Beijing on Nov. 27, 2019. Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

TAIPEI—China is stepping up efforts to be nice to Taiwan ahead of key elections on Jan. 11, offering better treatment to Taiwanese in China and urging the democratic island to “come home,” but many there only see Beijing wielding a threatening stick.

China denies interfering in elections in Taiwan, which Beijing claims as sacred territory, but it traditionally tries various means to influence their result, hoping politicians with a more positive view on China ties get into office.