Taiwan’s opposition parties face deadlock in Blue-White Pact

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — TPP presidential candidate Ko Wen-je released a campaign video on Thursday (Nov. 10), which subtly hinted at his potential running mate. The video showed a scene where a mother closely examined the election bulletins for 2024, leading to speculation about Ko's vice-presidential pick.

It was later confirmed that the video featured Huang Shan-shan, the secretary general of Ko's campaign headquarters, as the TPP candidate for vice presidency. According to reports, KMT candidate Hou Yu-ih's running mate was identified as Ko Chih-en, CEO of a KMT-affiliated think tank.

The proposed "Blue-White Pact," a joint ticket between the opposition parties Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP), remains a hot topic after recent tensions. Discontent arose following a late-night conversation last month, where both parties struggled to agree on the best method to select their presidential candidate for the upcoming election.

The campaign video lashed at the alternating 20-year presidencies of the KMT and the currently ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), condemning both for failing to improve living conditions in Taiwan. This message stirred controversy, as it portrayed the people of Taiwan as being left helpless and enraged under their governance.

The video's underlying sarcasm ignited mixed reactions online, with many comments suggesting that the "blue-white alliance" is at an impasse. The debate was further fueled by former KMT lawmaker Alex Tsai, who emphasized the importance of the Ko-Hou pairing as a strategy to win the presidential election.