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Today, Explained

Elections everywhere all at once

Jan 11, 2024
Join Amy Hawkins, The Guardian’s senior China correspondent, and Bryan Walsh, Editorial director at Vox, as they dissect Taiwan's critical elections amid rising tensions with China. Hawkins offers insights into the dynamic political landscape, spotlighting key candidates and their strategies. Walsh frames the significance of Taiwan's elections within a global context, emphasizing the fragility of democracy worldwide. Discover how these local choices impact international relations and reflect broader democratic challenges.
25:41

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Taiwan's upcoming presidential election has significant implications for cross-strait relations, geopolitical tensions, and the global economy due to its role in semiconductor manufacturing.
  • Democratic backsliding is a global concern with safety and fairness of elections, criminalization of opponents, and the spread of misinformation, emphasizing the importance of protecting and strengthening democracy.

Deep dives

Importance of Taiwan's Election

The podcast discusses the upcoming presidential election in Taiwan, which is seen as an important event for the country. Taiwan, a young democracy, will choose between a progressive candidate and a candidate who wants closer ties with China. The race is close, but regardless of political affiliation, Taiwanese voters value the opportunity to participate in a democratic process and not take democracy for granted. The election has significant implications for cross-strait relations and geopolitical tensions, as well as the global economy due to Taiwan's role in semiconductor manufacturing.

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