The US has qualms about Taiwan’s presidential candidates, the New York-based Asia Society said in a report published last week, adding that the outcome of January’s election would determine the development of relations between Taiwan, China and the US.
The report by Simona Grano, a senior fellow on Taiwan at the institute’s Center for China Analysis, examined the involvement of the US and China in the election.
While US officials and policymakers have remained neutral in their statements, Washington has reservations about all four candidates, Grano wrote.
Many American observers believe that Vice President William Lai (賴清德), the Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate, could “deviate from the moderate policy” of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), she said.
New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) candidate, carries the weight of the party’s relations with the US, the report said, citing the example of import bans on meat from the US by the administration of former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and its pursuit of closer ties with Beijing.
Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) is a “wild card” who advocates for constructive and equally amicable relations with China and the US, Grano said.
The report did not elaborate on the US’ attitude toward Hon Hai Precision Industry Co founder Terry Gou (郭台銘), an independent candidate, saying only that he “aligns quite well with the KMT’s and the pan-blue camp[’s] ideological viewpoint and campaigning strategies.”
The election “could mark a turning point” for Taiwan as geopolitical tensions continue to increase and the candidates’ approaches to cross-strait issues are at the core of their campaigns, Grano said.
China is attempting to influence the outcome of the vote by shaping public opinion, including through diplomatic pressure, propaganda and gray-zone tactics, she said.
The influence of the US is manifested in its support for Taiwan’s democratic process and countering China’s influence, she said.
The involvement of the two global powers in the election “highlights the geopolitical complexities surrounding Taiwan’s status” and the ongoing power struggle between them, she added.
In the final two months leading up to the election, “many things may change,” the report said.
The outcome of the election would depend not only on issues and concerns of Taiwanese, but also on “how China acts during the run-up to the election,” it said.
Costa Rica sent a group of intelligence officials to Taiwan for a short-term training program, the first time the Central American country has done so since the countries ended official diplomatic relations in 2007, a Costa Rican media outlet reported last week. Five officials from the Costa Rican Directorate of Intelligence and Security last month spent 23 days in Taipei undergoing a series of training sessions focused on national security, La Nacion reported on Friday, quoting unnamed sources. The Costa Rican government has not confirmed the report. The Chinese embassy in Costa Rica protested the news, saying in a statement issued the same
Taiwan is to extend its visa-waiver program for Philippine passport holders for another year, starting on Aug. 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Friday. Lin made the announcement during a reception in Taipei marking the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The decision reflected Taiwan’s commitment to deepening exchanges with the Philippines, the statement cited Lin as saying, adding that it was a key partner under the New Southbound Policy launched in 2016. Lin also expressed hope
Temperatures in New Taipei City’s Sindian District (新店) climbed past 37°C yesterday, as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued heat alerts for 16 municipalities, warning the public of intense heat expected across Taiwan. The hottest location in Taiwan was in Sindian, where the mercury reached 37.5°C at about 2pm, according to CWA data. Taipei’s Shilin District (士林) recorded a temperature of 37.4°C at noon, Taitung County’s Jinfeng Township (金峰) at 12:50 pm logged a temperature of 37.4°C and Miaoli County’s Toufen Township (頭份) reached 36.7°C at 11:40am, the CWA said. The weather agency yesterday issued a yellow level information notice for Taipei, New
CASE: Prosecutors have requested heavy sentences, citing a lack of remorse and the defendants’ role in ‘undermining the country’s democratic foundations’ Five people affiliated with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), including senior staff from the party’s Taipei branch, were indicted yesterday for allegedly forging thousands of signatures to recall two Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers. Those indicted include KMT Taipei chapter director Huang Lu Chin-ru (黃呂錦茹), secretary-general Chu Wen-ching (初文卿) and secretary Yao Fu-wen (姚富文), the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said in a news release. Prosecutors said the three were responsible for fabricating 5,211 signature forms — 2,537 related to the recall of DPP Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) and 2,674 for DPP Legislator Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) — with forged entries accounting for