
Analysis: Recall that October 25, 1971, is the date on which Taiwan was essentially forced out of the United Nations, following accords reached between China's Chairman Mao Zedong and US President Richard Nixon. The status of Taiwan, even its official name, is a very dangerous topic for any Taiwanese politician, as China has always stated that it was ready to go to war if democracy got out of hand in Taiwan (specifically, if a referendum about independence, a sure winner, was ever held).