TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Nikkei Asia drew international attention to Taiwan's presidential election on Wednesday (Dec. 6) by dubbing it "2024's most influential election in Asia."
Set for Jan. 13, the race features three tickets vying for the presidency and vice-presidency: the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) pairing Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim, the Kuomintang (KMT) duo of Hou Yu-ih and Jaw Shaw-kong, and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) team comprising Ko Wen-je and Cynthia Wu.
Amid heightened global tensions between democratic and autocratic states, and increasing cross-strait strains, the stakes are high, as highlighted by Nikkei Asia.
Campaigns hone in on the themes of "war and peace," with the DPP advocating for fortified self-defense, while the KMT criticizes the potential provocation of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), promoting benign communication and economic ties to ease relations. The TPP also leans towards dialogue with China, accusing the DPP of being overly aggressive.
In line with these complexities, Ivan Kanapathy, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a former National Security Council official, expressed skepticism about the KMT's ability to clearly present a strategy for maintaining peace and preventing CCP aggression, labeling their cross-strait policy stance as less convincing compared to that of the DPP.
The upcoming election is set to test whether Taiwanese voters will stand firm in defending their sovereignty and future amid increasing pressure from China or yield to the CCP's growing influence, according to Nikkei Asia's pointed commentary.
