The article, written by a senior scholar for the People’s Liberation Army, described Dr Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s first female leader, as a “single woman politician” who was prone to a radical style because she lacked the “burden of love, family and children”.
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“‘In terms of political tricks, she considers strategy less, tactical details more, and short-term goals are paramount, while long-term goals are less taken into account”, Wang wrote.
The editorial appeared on the website of the International Herald Leader, published by China’s official Xinhua News Agency.
The first female president of Taiwan is angering China with her singledom. It attacks Tsai not for her positions, but for something more innocuous: being single.
Taiwan’s health minister delivered a letter of protest to World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan stating that Taiwan’s participation in the annual gathering should not be contingent on it accepting Beijing’s “one-China principle”.
Tsai Ing-wen is a lot of things: A graduate of Cornell University and the London School of Economics, a former professor, a seasoned trade negotiator, a veteran politician – and, as of last week, the democratically elected president of Taiwan.
Beijing is highly suspicious of Tsai, whose Democratic Progressive Party is traditionally pro-independence, and has warned her against any attempt at a breakaway.
The key to ensuring that cross-Strait relations develop peacefully lies in adhering to the political foundation that features the one-China principle, Zhang said. “Her political style and tactics are often emotional, personalized, and extreme”, it read. He said the mainland opposes all separatist activities advocating “Taiwan independence” in the name of “law amendments”.
A Chinese military official criticized Taiwan’s newly elected president as being “extremist” and “erratic” because of her single marital status.
Alex Huang, a spokesman for Tsai, told the BBC she would not comment on Xinhua’s chauvinism.
Internet users in Taiwan joined lawmakers in slamming Wang Weixing’s comments. As some analysts (here and here) have already pointed out, there is a high chance that in 2016 we could see multiple crises erupting in the East Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait.
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Another post on the Apple Daily’s site said: “China is so barbaric”.
