Many people watched the inauguration of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen with great interest. Millions of Taiwanese who had decisively voted her and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) into power listened out of hope for significant change under a new leader. Across the strait and elsewhere, officials and analysts scrutinized her speech, but with different intentions.

Beijing closely watches what Tsai says and does to see if she might seek to unravel the closer cross-straits ties that developed during the presidency of her predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou. Washington, too, needs to balance its historical links to Taiwan with bigger issues at stake in the Sino-American relationship.

Other Asians should also rightly observe the new administration. The last DPP presidency under Chen Shui-bian from 2000 to 2008 seemed to set a course for pro-independence. Mainland China's strong opposition to that course sent tensions rippling across the region.