Taiwan angry over ‘emotional’ female president comments

TAIPEI – Agence France-Presse

In this May 20, 2016 file photo, new Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, left, and Vice President Chen Chien-jen wave during their inauguration ceremonies in Taipei, Taiwan - AP photo

Outraged Taiwanese took to the Internet May 26 to slam sexist comments by a Chinese analyst who said the island’s new president practices “emotional” politics because she is a single woman.

The scathing attack May 24 from a member of China’s organization overseeing relations with the island comes amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Taipei after the election of Taiwan’s first female leader, Beijing-sceptic Tsai Ing-wen.

The remarks from Wang Weixing, a military analyst and a board member of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, claimed that Tsai’s politics were affected by her status as a “single female politician.”

“In political style and strategy, often she tends to be emotional, personal and extreme. 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.  

Tsai’s office and the ruling DPP declined to comment on the remarks, but enraged politicians and citizens openly voiced their displeasure. 

“It’s such a ridiculous remark and discrimination against single people. Everyone has the right to choose his or her lifestyle by having partners or staying single and that should be respected,” DPP lawmaker Yeh Yi-chin told AFP.  

Another lawmaker Wang Yu-min was equally incensed over the comments.   

“Such a personal attack is extremely improper. It’s gender discrimination and we strongly oppose such remarks,” said Wang, from the Beijing-friendly KMT party.  

Internet users in Taiwan joined lawmakers in slamming Wang’s comments May 26.

“Why doesn’t he criticize a bunch of married male politicians who are having extramarital affairs? [He’s] a chauvinist pig who hurts gender equality,” wrote one post on the Facebook page of Taiwan’s Liberty Times newspaper.

“It is a crime to be single? Such a remark only shows the world how perverted China is,” wrote one message on the Apple Daily’s website.  

Another blasted: “China is so barbaric.”

Tsai, from the Beijing-wary Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was inaugurated last week, succeeding Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang (KMT) who oversaw an unprecedented rapprochement with China.

Beijing has since warned the new president against any move to declare formal independence and threatened to cut contact unless Tsai states support for the “one China” principle.  

Although Taiwan is self-ruling after splitting with the mainland in 1949 following a civil war, it has never formally declared independence and Beijing still sees it as part of its territory awaiting reunification.