Taiwan
In 2016, Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) became President of Taiwan. President Tsai called upon the international community to help Taiwan to preserve its democracy despite the threatening language used against Taiwan by PRC President Xi Jinping. President Tsai called upon the PRC to democratize, respect human rights, and renounce the use of military force against Taiwan.
2018 Taiwanese municipal elections
Political context prior to the elections
As the capital of Taiwan, Taipei functions as the economic and political centre of Taiwan and is currently its largest city. Taipei's mayoral race has been hotly contested between Kuomintang and the Democratic Progressive Party since the 1994 local election. Notably, this seat has been held by former presidents Lee Teng Hui, Chen Shui Bian, and Ma Ying-jeou. The position has been widely speculated to be a "first-step" towards the presidential office.