, Columnist
China Should Want a Stronger Taiwan
The island's global ties make it more useful to the mainland.
Tsai's recalcitrance has annoyed leaders in Beijing.
Photographer: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Next week's inauguration of Tsai Ing-wen as Taiwan's new president has got China agitated. Tsai, leader of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, has so far refused to reiterate the formula used to dodge questions about Taiwan's status -- that there's only "one China," even if the two sides disagree about what that means. China has darkly warned that any breakdown in relations will be on Tsai's head. It's even threatening to cut off Taiwan’s access to the World Health Organization, one of the few global bodies in which the island is allowed to participate.