Taiwan's Opposition selects Ex-Google executive to run for elections

The Opposition Party which is pro-China has selected an Ex-Google executive as their candidate to run for the upcoming Presidential in Taiwan. According to the reports, the elections are scheduled to be held early next year. Chang San-cheng, former Google executive joined the Nationalist Party on November 11. 

Ex-Google executive to run for Presidential elections

Chang San-cheng, who was earlier running for the Presidential elections as an independent candidate joined hands with the Nationalist Party candidate Han Kuo-yu on November 11. According to the polls, Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party is in the lead, followed by Han Kuo-yu of the Democratic Party. Chang San-cheng has received his masters and doctoral degrees from Stanford and Cornell universities in the United States. He is an engineer, who earlier worked for Google. He worked as a search engine Google’s head of the technology department in Asia from the year 2010 -2012. 

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China wants to claim sovereignty over Taiwan

The news comes amidst protests against China. The protests have divided the country. China has been claiming sovereignty over Taiwan, at the same time decided to boycott Tsai due to its independent position. On the other hand, Beijing has said that it will deploy military forces to bring Tsai under its control. Tsai has been exercising self-governance and democracy. But China wants to gain control over the Island. The ex-Google executive earlier worked as the chief in the administration of Ma Ying-jeou, who was the predecessor of Tsai. Ma Ying-jeou, gained support from Beijing as he implemented policies that brought the two sides together. 

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Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe on October 21 has said that solving the 'Taiwan question' is China's greatest national interest adding that no force can prevent China's 'reunification'. Tensions between China and Taiwan have been running high as self-ruled island's presidential elections approaches and are due to be held in January 2020.

'Democratic' Taiwan has slammed China for its authoritarian rule and for being a threat to regional peace. China, on the other hand, has pressured Taiwan in a bid to reduce its few remaining diplomatic allies. China has always considered Taiwan as its sacred territory. President Xi Jinping has repeatedly uttered that Taiwan be brought under Beijing's rule, even if it is by force. Taiwan independence supporters say that China's communist government has never ruled Taiwan so it cannot be reunified.