DPP's 'decoupling' bid will harm Taiwan

Cross-Straits relations have deteriorated since Tsai Ing-wen became Taiwan leader in 2016, as she and her ruling Democratic Progressive Party, as part of their pro-independence activities, have been trying to reduce trade between the two sides and coax Taiwan investors and enterprises to shift their operations from the Chinese mainland to Southeast Asian countries or back to the island. Yet trade and economic exchanges, which are a solid foundation for cross-Straits ties, are still going strong.

As the DPP will be in power for the next four years, the Taiwan authorities are likely to take more measures to weaken cross-Straits trade, economic and other exchanges, which means cross-Straits trade faces huge risks and uncertainties.

Although Tsai, who refuses to acknowledge the 1992 Consensus that there is only one China, played the key role in turning the amiable cross-Straits relationship up to 2016 into one of tense political confrontation during her first term, trade exchanges between the mainland and Taiwan have become more intertwined.