Shannon Brandao
(Right Click on Article's Hyperlink Above to Open Article in a New Tab...)
"Bloomberg [excerpt]: The collapse of the opposition alliance makes Chinese President #XiJinping’s stated goal of voluntary unification with #Taiwan more remote, with pro-Beijing votes scattered among the challengers to the incumbent Democratic Progressive Party. That would benefit the ruling party’s candidate, Vice President Lai Ching-te, who wants to further strengthen Taiwan’s ties with Washington.
Standing in Lai’s way are the Kuomintang’s Hou Yu-ih and the Taiwan People’s Party’s Ko Wen-je, both of whom have said they plan to restart direct talks with Beijing. #Foxconn Technology Group founder Terry Gou withdrew from the presidential race just hours before Friday’s registration deadline, saying he did so for the 'greater good' to give the two remaining opposition candidates a better chance of unseating the DPP.
Despite the fractured opposition, an unprecedented third straight term in power for the DPP is by no means a foregone conclusion. After almost eight years in power, there’s growing unhappiness with the party and a desire for change, especially among younger voters. Support for Lai dipped to 31.4%, leaving him just a fraction ahead of the KMT’s Hou on 31.1%, according to a survey by the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation released Friday. Ko trails in third place on 25.2%.
'There are a substantial amount of voters who want a change,' said Wei-Ting Yen, assistant professor at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania. 'So there is a higher chance for the DPP to lose the majority in the legislature.'
Friday’s registration deadline for the #election confirmed the final roster of candidates contesting the Jan. 13 vote. Their choices of vice presidential running mates also provided strong indications of where their priorities lie.
Lai’s vice presidential pick, Hsiao Bi-khim — Taiwan’s former de facto ambassador to the US — points to his party’s efforts to build upon its success in strengthening unofficial ties overseas, especially with Washington.
'We’ve been put in a situation where geostrategic challenges are formidable and the rock-solid partnership with the US is critically important,' Hsiao said at a press conference Thursday.
While the US doesn’t formally recognize Taiwan as a nation, it has vowed to help the island defend itself against what American officials say is an increasingly aggressive #China. Beijing views Taiwan as a part of Chinese territory.
Both Lai and Hsiao assert Taiwan is already a de facto sovereign country in need of greater #international recognition. China has labeled Lai a 'troublemaker,' and has put Hsiao on its sanctions list of 'die-hard' Taiwan independence supporters."
#news #geopolitics