FEATURE: Taiwan's year of living democracy

With Taiwan's fourth direct democratic presidential election, the self-governing island that China considers part of its territory saw its second fully democratic change in power. An election year would usually see an escalation in tensions between China and Taiwan, but this time China let democracy take its course and the Taiwanese people obliged by installing a China-friendly leadership.

Adam Connors

Last Updated: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 15:37:00 +1100

When folk singer Chen Ming-chang released his bittersweet 2001 album Last Train to SuAo, Taiwan had just undergone a spectacular change in political power - the first democratic exchange of power in Chinese history.

The Democratic Progressive Party, led by Taiwan-born Chen Shui-bian, swept into office in March 2000 on a key policy of providing a louder voice for ethnic Taiwanese previously muffled by centuries of assimulation.

And by the year 2008, nearly 90 per cent of the island's population of 23 million people are Taiwan-born.

While the majority continue to be ethnically Han Chinese, their adoration of aboriginal culture is now in the mainstream.

Many consider it to be their own culture.

Many consider themselves Taiwanese.

And that is where it all gets a little bit complicated.

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