Updated on
Summary China overshadows Taiwan in almost every respect.
Ties between China and Taiwan are closer than at any time since they split in a civil war but the staid Communist Party congress being held in Beijing is highlighting how far apart the two sides are politically.With a population 50 times bigger and an economy 15 times greater, China overshadows Taiwan in almost every respect.But one area where Taiwan seems ahead is its freewheeling political system.Stepped-up trade and travel between China and Taiwan as well as a revival in longstanding cultural and social ties are all carrying Taiwans success with democracy to mainlanders.Chinas ruling Communists continue to hail their model as superior, noting its state-directed economy has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty in recent decades.
