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WORLD NEWS Friday 10 January 2020
Taiwan leader gets election boost from unlikely place: China

Associated Press Taiwan at the start of 2019
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A that many analysts point to
year ago, Taiwan's leader as the starting point for her
was on the ropes. Then she political recovery.
got a boost from an unex- The Chinese leader upped
pected corner: Chinese the pressure on Taiwan
President Xi Jinping. to join China under the
Polls indicate that President "one country, two systems"
Tsai Ing-wen is poised to win framework that governs
a second four-year term on Hong Kong. He called for
Saturday, a remarkable talks on the issue, while say-
turnaround for a leader ing that China would not
whose future was in doubt rule out the use of force to
after voters dealt her Dem- achieve unification.
ocratic Progressive Party Tsai responded immedi-
a major loss in November ately, saying Taiwan's 23
2018 local elections. million people would never
Since then, Tsai has capi- accept "one country, two
talized on three develop- systems" and launching a
ments: the fears generated four-day media blitz. Three
by China's tough words on weeks later, her support
Taiwan, protests in Hong rating was 10 percentage
Kong that have reinforced points higher than after
those fears and U.S. gov- In this Jan. 8, 2020, photo, Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's President and the 2020 presidential election can- the November 2018 elec-
ernment actions that reas- didate for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), chants slogans during an election campaign tion setback.
sure voters that America rally in northern Taiwan's Hsinchu province. She also benefited from a
will have Taiwan's back if Associated Press revamp of her public im-
the going gets tough. age that used memes, ani-
"All the factors that help A victory for Tsai and her ist Party, won the mayor's August. She was the clear mation and social media to
Tsai Ing-wen are happen- independence-leaning race in the Democratic Pro- leader by the end of the reach young voters. Cam-
ing: the China factor, the party would likely herald gressive Party stronghold of year, according to an ag- paign spokeswoman Lien
U.S. factor and the Hong continued tensions and a Kaohsiung in the 2018 local gregation of polls by The Yi-ting credited the strat-
Kong protests," pollster further souring of relations elections and held a com- News Lens, an indepen- egy with playing an impor-
You Ying-lung, chairman with China, which consid- fortable lead over Tsai in dent youth-oriented media tant role in boosting Tsai's
of the Taiwan Public Opin- ers self-governing Taiwan a early 2019. outlet. approval ratings.
ion Foundation, said at a renegade province. Tsai began chipping away A Tsai victory is the last thing Then came the Hong Kong
news conference late last Her main opponent, Han at his lead in the spring and that Xi wants, yet it was his pro-democracy protests,
month. Kuo-yu of the National- pulled ahead for good in major policy speech on which erupted in June. q

Russia's Putin attends Black Sea drills

by the Russian navy

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian and other weapons. Sea drills by the Russian
President Vladimir Putin on More than 30 warships and navy
Thursday watched a na- 39 aircraft, including sever- MOSCOW (AP) — Russian
val exercise involving mul- al Tu-95 strategic bombers, President Vladimir Putin on
tiple missile launches in the took part in the exercise. Thursday watched a na-
Black Sea. Putin also met with officers val exercise involving mul-
The Kremlin said that Putin from the Marshal Ustinov tiple missile launches in the
watched the maneuvers cruiser, which is part of the Black Sea.
from the Marshal Ustinov Northern Fleet based in the The Kremlin said that Putin
missile cruiser. The navy Arctic port of Severomorsk. watched the maneuvers
said the drills involved war- The ship has been on a long from the Marshal Ustinov
ships from Russia's Black mission that included a de- missile cruiser. The navy
Sea Fleet along with sev- ployment to the eastern said the drills involved war-
eral ships from its Northern Mediterranean as part of ships from Russia's Black
Fleet. Russia's campaign in Syria. Sea Fleet along with sev-
The Russian naval maneu- The Russian leader also eral ships from its Northern
vers come amid height- took part in a meeting with Fleet.
ened U.S.-Iran tensions af- military officials in Sevasto- The Russian naval maneu-
ter the U.S. strike last week pol in Crimea, which Russia vers come amid height-
that killed Iran's most pow- annexed from Ukraine in ened U.S.-Iran tensions af-
erful military commander. 2014. ter the U.S. strike last week
As part of the Black Sea "The navy always has been that killed Iran's most pow-
drills, MiG-31 fighter jets a key component of na- erful military commander.
launched Kinzhal hyper- tional defense," Putin said. As part of the Black Sea
sonic missiles at practice "We will maintain and drills, MiG-31 fighter jets
land targets. Navy ships strengthen our nation's sta- launched Kinzhal hyper-
performed several launch- tus as a key naval power." sonic missiles at practice
es of Kalibr cruise missiles Russia's Putin attends Black land targets.q