A US State Department official told the Financial Times that victory for the DPP in Taiwan's presidential election in January could upset China. The official said the US hopes DPP candidate Tsai Ing-wen could be more like her rival Ma Ying-jeou, who has smoothed relations with China. Tsai was in Washington this week to reassure the US she would not cause trouble, as her predecessor Chen Shui-bian was often accused. The State Department has said the official spoke out of turn, but the pro-China media have already jumped on the story.