China might implement pressure campaigns in the run-up to Taiwan’s presidential election next month, including introducing investment incentives and conducting military exercises around the country, to try and sway voters to cast their ballot in a more pro-Beijing direction, an expert said on Thursday.
In contrast to how official communications with Taiwan were severed after President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) won her first-term victory in 2016, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has continued full steam ahead in its efforts to win the hearts of Taiwanese business people, said Kung Shan-son (龔祥生), a researcher at the Taiwan government-funded think tank Institute for National Defense and Security Research.
At a forum in Taipei, Kung highlighted that in September, as Taiwan’s election campaign intensified, China announced a total of 22 new policies aimed at facilitating the creation of a “demonstration zone” in coastal Fujian Province to facilitate cross-strait economic collaboration.
Photo: Reuters
On the military front, in the past China has hesitated to employ military pressure in the run-up to a major Taiwanese election, fearing that such aggressiveness could cause Taiwanese to vote for an anti-Beijing party, he said.
However, there might be less incentive for China to exercise restraint this year, as voters are more set on which way they will vote, which could leave less room for Beijing’s “carrot” approach to sway a meaningful amount of voters, he said.
He added the CCP might not be laser-focused on working toward one “particular political party” being elected, as has traditionally been the case, although he did not mention which party he was referring to.
The Chinese Nationalist Party ‘s (KMT) presidential nominee, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), who is more China-friendly, is trailing the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) nominee, Vice President William Lai (賴清德) and Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) in polls for months.
However, Hou has gained momentum among the KMT base since announcing media personality and opinion leader Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康) as his running mate last week, and while still lagging behind Lai, he is now polling ahead of Ko in most polls released this week.
In addition to military exercises around Taiwan, the CCP could employ coercive economic and trade policies as tools of intimidation in the lead-up to the Jan. 13 elections, with the aim of influencing Taiwanese voters, Kung said.
These might include measures similar to the banning of Taiwanese mangoes in August, he added.
The Taiwanese government labeled the ban on the fruit as “meddling in the presidential election,” while China attributed the move to the discovery of agricultural pests in recent shipments.
The CCP may, at the right time, lift the ban in a bid to showcase “goodwill” toward Taiwan, the expert said.
However, the effectiveness of the “carrot and stick” strategy might not meet the CCP’s expectations, as Taiwanese voters are accustomed to such approaches before elections, Kung said.
Given the downturn in China’s economy, investment incentives might not yield anticipated results, he said.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS