The anticipated alliance among three opposition presidential candidates in Taiwan has disintegrated, with billionaire businessman Terry Gou pulling out of the race. The failed attempt at unity, aimed at challenging the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), unfolded in a dramatic meeting at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Taipei.
Gou, Ko Wen-je, and Hou Yu-ih, all sitting on the same stage, engaged in bickering and recriminations during their last chance for an agreement. Gou’s withdrawal leaves Ko’s Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and Hou’s Kuomintang (KMT) waiting to see whom Gou endorses. The DPP’s William Lai Ching-te leads the polls, but an alliance could have posed a real challenge.
With registration closing soon, the KMT and TPP have announced their vice-presidential picks. KMT’s choice, Jaw Shaw-kong, a TV personality and advocate for “reunification” with China, caters to the party’s traditional base. TPP’s Cynthia Wu, a wealthy businesswoman born in the US, aligns with the party’s promise of better ties with Beijing.
The KMT, historically dominant in Taiwan until 2000, sees Ko Wen-je as a political upstart threatening its return to power. The 64-year-old former surgeon, leading the TPP, has gained support, especially from young voters, with a focus on affordable housing.
Despite accusations of opportunism and inconsistency, Ko’s popularity has surged, infuriating the KMT, which considered an alliance with him to challenge the DPP. The opposition now narrows down to the KMT and TPP, while the DPP introduces its vice-presidential candidate, Bi-Khim Hsiao, known for her role as Taiwan’s representative to the United States.
As the presidential race intensifies, the withdrawal of Gou and the fractured opposition dynamics set the stage for a closely watched campaign in the lead-up to the January election. Source – BBC
