[WORLD NEWS ★★]
TAIWAN ELECTS FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT
(P1) Tsai Ing-wen has been elected Taiwan’s first female president.
(P2) Ms Tsai, 59, leads the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
(P3) In her victory speech, she promised to preserve the STATUS QUO in relations with China, adding Beijing must respect Taiwan’s democracy and both sides must ensure there are no PROVOCATIONS.
(P4) China sees the island as a BREAKAWAY province – which it has threatened to take back by force if necessary.
(P5) In her speech, Ms Tsai hailed a “new era” in Taiwan and promised to COOPERATE with other political parties on major issues.
(P6) She thanked the US and Japan for their support and vowed Taiwan would contribute to peace and STABILITY in the region.
(P7) Ms Tsai had a COMMANDING lead in the vote count when Eric Chu of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) admitted defeat.
(P8) Mr Chu CONGRATULATED Tsai Ing-wen and announced he was quitting as KMT head. Taiwan’s Premier Mao Chi-kuo also resigned.
(P9) The FLAGGING economy as well as Taiwan’s relationship with China both played a role in the voters’ choice.
(P10) The KMT has been in power for most of the past 70 years.
(P11) Ms Tsai, a former SCHOLAR, became chairwoman of the DPP in 2008.
(P12) She lost a presidential bid in 2012 but SUBSEQUENTLY led the party to regional election victories. She has won increased support from the public partly because of widespread dissatisfaction over the KMT and President Ma Ying-jeou’s handling of the economy and widening wealth gap.
(P13) The election came just months after a historic meeting between President Ma and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Singapore in November. These were the first official talks between the “two Chinas” in more than 60 years.
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SOURCE: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35333647
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
If you found the passage difficult to read or had problems understanding specific words or idiomatic expressions, please discuss them with your tutor. The following discussion questions should be answered in your own words and with your own arguments.
- Briefly summarize the content of the article in your own words.
- South Korea also recently elected its first female president. How are attitudes about women in politics changing in Asia?
- Taiwan and mainland China both claim to be the “real China.” Do you think that they will ever SETTLE THEIR DIFFERENCES?
- Has there been a recent major election in your country? What was the result?
- Are you active in a political party?
EXPRESSIONS TO PRACTICE:
What do the following expressions mean? Practice using each expression in a sentence; extra points if you can use it in conversation.
- Status quo
- Settle differences
