China policy in question after KMT's huge poll loss

Taipei

TAIWAN'S warm relations with China were called into question on Sunday after the island's Beijing-friendly ruling party suffered its worst-ever polls defeat in local elections, sparking the resignation of several of its senior leaders.

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

Seen as a barometer before presidential elections in 2016, the poll results may now force the KMT to re-examine its China policy - and encourage the …