Taiwan is preparing to elect a president and members of its legislature on Saturday (13/1) in what many see as a test of the control of China, which claims the self-ruled island as its own territory to be united by force if necessary.
The election pits Vice President Lai Ching-te, of the Democratic Progressive Party, against Hou Yu-ih of the main opposition Nationalist Party, and former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP).
Lai was considered the frontrunner in the competition, and Hou shadowed closely.
Although the Nationalists formally support unification with China, they say they want to do it their own way — a somewhat abstract concept considering the Chinese Communist Party’s demand for total power. However, some people find it a useful solution to avoid direct conflict.
Beijing has labeled Lai a “Taiwan independence element,” a term it does not deny, and which does not even carry any stigma in Taiwan.
Lai promised to continue President Tsai Ing-wen’s policy that Taiwan is independent and there is no need to make a declaration of independence which could trigger a military attack from China.
Despite ranking third in most surveys, TPP’s Ko said at a press conference Friday that he would work to strike a balance between Taiwan and the US that would not harm relations with China.
The United States strongly supports Taiwan in the face of China’s military threat and the Biden administration plans to send an informal delegation of former senior officials to the island immediately after the vote.
Image of Taiwanese flag during the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party’s campaign ahead of the presidential election, in New Taipei City on January 12, 2024. (Photo: AFP)
Sending this delegation could undermine efforts to repair relations between Beijing and Washington, which have soured in recent years over trade, COVID-19, Washington’s support for Taiwan and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which China did not condemn at the UN.
Many things in Taiwan’s elections also depend on domestic issues, especially regarding the economy, which is estimated to have only grown by 1.4% last year. This partly reflects the inevitable cyclicality of demand for computer chips and other high-tech exports, and China’s economic slowdown.
However, long-term challenges such as affordable housing, the gap between rich and poor, and unemployment are also major challenges.
Taiwan’s presidential candidates make their final campaign appearances on Friday and they will end at midnight. The candidate with the most votes will be declared the winner, so there will be no runoff election. (ab/uh)