Taiwan election

As Taiwan’s presidential election approaches, Democratic Progressive Party candidate William Lai is firmly in the lead. However, Taiwan People’s Party candidate Ko Wen-je is also in a solid second place. Academic Lu Xi opines that if Ko survives the election and TPP becomes a key minority in the Taiwanese Legislative Yuan, Ko's influence will gain greater ground in the coming years as young voters' support continues to grow.

Cultural and academic exchanges between Taiwan and mainland China have restarted since being suspended due to the three-year-long pandemic. While official coordination of these exchanges are proving to be difficult to resume, it remains a priority, in particular for the mainland side. On the Taiwan side, wary of interference ahead of the Taiwan election, relevant authorities are tightening the scrutiny of mainlanders visiting Taiwan. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Miao Zong-Han tells us more.

On 23 July, the Kuomintang (KMT) formally approved New Taipei mayor Hou You-yi as its candidate in the 2024 presidential election, despite some talk that it might throw its weight behind Foxconn founder and billionaire Terry Gou after all. Even so, Gou may be joining the race as an independent, splitting the race into a four-cornered fight with the Democratic Progressive Party's William Lai, the KMT's Hou, and the Taiwan People's Party's Ko Wen-je. Lianhe Zaobao China Desk and Taiwan correspondent Woon Wei Jong take us through the latest developments.

Japanese academic Yoshiyuki Ogasawara notes that while there has been much talk of "Taiwan independence", it seems that there is actually little understanding of what the term really means, and what making any changes to Taiwan’s status would entail.

With about eight months to go to the next Taiwan presidential election, commentator Gu Er De explains why Hou You-yi won the nomination as KMT presidential candidate, while Terry Gou failed despite his best efforts.

Wei Da explains why issues such as Taiwan’s chosen civilisational path, great power competition and geostrategic rivalry are critical in the Taiwan issue. In the end, the question of the superiority and inferiority of civilisational development will determine Taiwan's future.

With his visit to China trending online and his approval ratings rising, former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou is looking to be a possible candidate for the KMT in the presidential election next year. But the picture is more complicated than it seems, says Zaobao correspondent Woon Wei Jong.

East Asian Institute senior research fellow Qi Dongtao analyses the significance of former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou’s upcoming visit to mainland China. Could history repeat itself and the visit be a harbinger of a marked strengthening of ties between the mainland and the KMT, leading to a victory over the DPP in the 2024 elections?

With Foxconn founder Terry Gou declaring interest in running for Taiwan president again, commentator Chen Kuohsiang cites examples to show why having a businessman as a political leader may not be a good idea, given the different qualities required for each role.