Taiwan’s departure from China: Referendum strengthens ties with the US

The people of Taiwan have strengthened the democratic government and relations with the United States. The opposition lost four referendums – including one on the demanded ban on US pork imports.

Taiwan can continue to import growth hormone-bred meat from the United States. That is one of the central results of the referendum on the Pacific island. The opposition had tried to stop imports, although so far less than ten percent of meat imports come from the USA.

For the government under President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party, however, the import is a further step towards a joint free trade agreement with the USA in order to make itself more independent from China.

End of nuclear power by 2025

A nuclear power plant that was shut down a few years ago also remains out of service. Taiwan wants to do without nuclear power entirely by 2025. Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang said the referendums would show public support for the government’s policies on US meat imports and the energy transition.

The chairman of the opposition KMT, however, apologized to his members for the failure of the popular vote. The voter turnout was just over 40 percent and the decisions were tight.