TAIPEI (TVBS News) — With Taiwan's 2024 election approaching, discussions about the island's future stability and peace are prominent, heightened by growing international media interest. A forum, led by ICRT and TVBS at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) on Wednesday (Dec. 13), focused on Taiwan Strait issues.
The forum emphasized the vital role of young voters in the election. Taiwanese parties are actively engaging youth in their recent campaigns to boost turnout.
Students, particularly from the international community, attended the forum to understand Taiwan's political climate. A key concern among foreign students is the impact of the election on the complex Taiwan Strait situation.
Leon Seydel, a graduate student at the University of Hamburg, expressed worries about Taiwan's future amid China's military aggression. "I think the big question is what will happen in mainland China, and how their domestic situation will develop. I fear that Taiwan can mostly adapt to the situation."
Cross-strait tensions and proposed government policies by Taiwanese parties are central topics for Taiwanese youth. Concerns about a forced union with China are prevalent. The main question is how Taiwan's parties will prepare for a potential military conflict with China.
Kuo Ting-jen, a student at the University of Sydney, highlighted the urgency of addressing China's "existential threat" and its influence on public discourse. "People need to talk more about the issue of Chinese influence on the public discourse because this psychological warfare is kind of an undetected facet of this election."
Kuo also commented on the parties' responsibility to protect Taiwan's democracy. "I think it's important to walk the line definitely because the rhetoric and the importance we place on the words we say, and how we say them, could be a matter of life or death for our country."
