Iron Lady's case for preserving Taiwan's independence

Tokyo

LU HSIU-LIEN might be anyone's favourite aunt - Aunt "Annette" (to use her Western given name). Her rather matronly, "tweedy" yet essentially kindly air conveys the impression of a caring aunt, but there is a hidden steel behind the ready smile of the 70-year- old former vice-president of Taiwan.

She has no doubt about the ability of women to lead the world. Her favourite role model is German Chancellor Angela Merkel and she is quick to point out that the US may soon have a woman president (Hillary Clinton) while in South Korea, Park Geun-hye is the country's first female leader.