TAIPEI (TVBS News) — ICRT and TVBS World Taiwan collaborated on Wednesday, December 13, to host an English-language roundtable discussion on the 2024 General Election in Taiwan. Titled "Taiwan Goes to the Polls," the event featured an insightful debate with the participation of media scholars and experts delving into Taiwan's politics.
The event commenced with a comprehensive examination of recent poll trends by Dimitri Bruyas, the head of English Content at TVBS News. Bruyas emphasized the significance of trends and data methodology over raw numbers in the election race, stating, "The numbers are not that important. What is important is the trend and the methodology behind your data set."
Based on the polling data presented during the forum, various numbers shed light on transparency, media representation, and government responsibility issues. Several panelists, including Lev Nachman of National Chengchi University, argued that these factors were central to the challenges facing Taiwan's democracy.
Nachman provided an informed portrayal of the ongoing challenges encountered by the young generation in Taiwan. They are concerned about determining which political party offers clear policies to improve their livelihoods, with a particular focus on wages and housing.
Nachman remarked, "If you’re 20 years old, that means you’ve grown up with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in power. For a lot of these new voters, it's not like the DPP has clear policy recommendations because the DPP is the man."
As additional panelists contributed to the debate, drawing on their professional experiences, the complexity of Taiwan's democratic politics became more apparent. The event attracted hundreds of attendees, with the majority of foreign media professionals and students.
The event's success not only demonstrated a growing global interest in Taiwan's affairs but also served as an informative platform for the foreign community to better understand the various controversies surrounding Taiwan's political landscape.
In her closing remarks, visiting scholar Chiaoning Su praised the collaborative effort showcased in this English-language forum, which garnered widespread media attention on a global scale. She emphasized, "We are sending a signal to the international community, and I think it wants to see Taiwan have the will to defend ourselves, to have the will to safeguard our national security."
