"It seems so extreme here, this campaigning is something that would never be allowed in China," said Wang Liping, a 42-year-old from Chongqing in central China, at the cloud-shrouded observatory deck of Taipei 101.
"China's way is better in that the new leaders are those selected for their experience, in a systematic manner ... I don't think it's a good idea to elect someone who has no experience just because they have more votes." ...
With the two leading candidates -- Ma Ying-jeou of the ruling Nationalist Party and Tsai Ing-wen of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) -- very close in opinion polls, there has been no easing in the excitement as polling day comes close.
"It's pretty good to have democracy, but it wastes a lot of time and resources," said another tourist from Jiangsu province in eastern China who wore a leather jacket with a camera around his neck.
He gave only his family name, Wu, reflecting a nervousness among many mainland Chinese in discussing democracy and politics. Many mainlanders refused to comment on the elections. One who started to do so was pulled away by his wife.
Sure, it seems alien and strange. And spouting the Tom Friedman line is safer since the tourists have to return home. But given all the unrest in China in reaction to corrupt rulers (at the local level, at least), do they really believe that their method produces reasonably enlightened despots?
As worried as I am that China takes advantage of tourism for espionage and could actually slip in special forces this route prior to an invasion, Taiwan has an opportunity to show mainlanders that Asians can indeed prosper under democracy. You never can tell what kind of impact that message could have.
