In this episode of Perspectives with Neilo, we bring you Part 3 in our mini-series on Taiwan's 2024 Presidential Election as we focus on the Kuomintang (中國國民黨) or KMT Party and their presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜).
As we mentioned previously, this election outcome will likely have profound implications for Taiwan as it will set the tone for how authoritarian China, who claim Taiwan as their sovereign territory, will advance their expansionist agenda in the future.
The KMT or Blue Party, originally held power in China in the early 1900's but retreated to Taiwan in 1949 under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek following defeat by the communists in the civil war. Chiang Kai-shek declared martial law and retained authoritarian rule over Taiwan until democratic reforms were enacted in the 1980's. The KMT's primary political rival in Taiwan are the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) or Green Party whom we have covered in the previous election episode.
Under the KMT presidency of Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) from 2008 to 2016, the KMT significantly loosened restrictions on cross-strait economic and cultural exchanges and in general are known to favor closer relations with the People Republic of China (PRC). In fact Hou Yu-ih in his election campaigning has recently talked of reviving the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement (CSSTA) negotiated with China under Ma Ying-jeou. However, the CSSTA was never ratified in Taiwan due to widespread public protests in what became known as the Sunflower Movement.
Our guest in this episode is Brian Ting. He is a Republic of China (RoC) Legislator-at-large candidate and KMT Young Leadership Committee member. He is also a National Policy Foundation Sun Yun-suan (孫運璿) (KMT Think Tank) scholar and former special assistant at the KMT USA representative office. We met him on November 22nd just prior to the conclusion of the KMT-TPP alliance discussions to talk about Hou Yu-ih's background, his policies on energy, foreign relations and much more.
After our interview, the KMT and TPP failed to form an alliance by the registration deadline and Hou Yu-ih officially named Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康) as his vice presidential running mate. Jaw is a conservative talk show host and media tycoon and previously participated in Taiwan's politics in the 80's and 90's.
We have included additional information on the candidates and the topics covered in this episode as well as the latest polling data from Courtney Donovan Smith's Poll of Polls published in the Taiwan News (Dec 10th) in our DIVE DEEPER section below.
Date of Recording: November 22nd, 2023.
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| KMT Presidential Candidate Hou Yu-ih (Left) and Vice Presidential Candidate Jaw Shaw-kong |
DIVE DEEPER:
Additional information and references on the topics covered in this episode:
- Jaw Shaw-kong - wiki
- A closer look at the KMT's pick for Taiwan vice president - Jono Thomson, Taiwan News (November 24th, 2023)
- Taiwan News Poll of Polls, Dec 10th - Courtney Donovan Smith, Taiwan News (December 10th, 2023)
- Taiwan's defining moment: Election to determine future of relations with China - Thompson Chau, Nikkei (December 6th, 2023)
- In Taiwan, China is covertly preparing for battle - Elizabeth Green, Prospect Magazine (December 6th, 2023)
- Inciting anxiety about the looming war - the disinformation narratives about the possible Taiwan Strait crisis during the 2024 Taiwanese presidential election - Wei-Ping Li, Ph.D., Taiwan Fact Check Center (November 27th, 2023)
- The Sunflower Movement - wiki
- The Activist Legacy of Taiwan's Sunflower Movement - Ming-sho Ho, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (August 2nd, 2018)
