Taiwan’s Raucous Democracy Is Another Challenge to Xi’s Ambition
- Chinese leader wants to annex society that cherishes elections
- Island’s freedoms stand in stark contrast to China, Hong Kong
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Rambunctious nighttime rallies attended by hundreds of thousands of flag-waving voters. Presidential hopefuls trading barbs via heated televized briefings. One restaurant making headlines for proudly serving up a signature dish called “democracy turkey rice.”
Taiwan’s freewheeling democratic system is on international display this week, as the island of 23 million people prepares for its tightest presidential race in two decades — and the first major test of open elections in a year that will see 40% of the world’s population go to the polls.