DHAKA: Taiwan’s warmer relations with China were called into question on Sunday after the island’s Beijing-friendly ruling party suffered a massive defeat at local elections, sparking the resignation of premier Jiang Yi-huah.

The major rout came as the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party struggles to combat public fears over growing Chinese influence, as well as a slowing economy and a string of food scandals.

Seen as a key barometer ahead of presidential elections in 2016, the dramatic poll results may now force the KMT to re-examine its China policy - and encourage the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which is traditionally Beijing-sceptic.

‘The KMT are not likely to push the ties (with China) forward if they hope not to suffer another huge setback in the 2016 presidential race,’ Dr Ding Shuh-fan, professor of National Chengchi University in Taipei, told the media, reports The Straits Times.

‘At the same time China is also unlikely to make concessions and offer substantial economic benefits in talks’ given the prospect of the DPP taking power in 2016, he added.

‘It would be hard for the cross-strait ties to move forward in the year ahead.’

BDST: 1258 HRS, NOV 30, 2014