Beijing sees ‘hope and opportunity’ in DPP’s weak Taiwan election result Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency said on Wednesday that the ban was imposed because Wang entered Taiwan on a tourist visa, but his participation in the show did not correspond with the purpose of the trip. For years, Taiwanese authorities turned a blind eye to … Read more
In a meeting with the KMT’s newly elected legislators on Monday, party chairman Eric Chu Li-luan confirmed that legislator-elect Han Kuo-yu, a former Kaohsiung mayor and ex-presidential candidate, would be the party’s candidate for the legislative speaker role – also known as the legislative presidency – to be decided on February 1. Legislator-elect Johnny Chiang, … Read more
Lai took an early lead when counting began at 4pm, eventually finishing with 40 per cent of the total votes cast, or just under 5.6 million. The election had a turnout of 71.9 per cent – about 14 million people – slightly lower than the 74.9 per cent recorded four years ago. The result means … Read more
But even an hour into the count, some of their supporters had already accepted that it was not going to be their day. “I’m not disappointed, I knew he was unlikely to win,” one of Ko’s supporters, a 45-year-old named Huang, said. The Taipei resident who works in the logistics industry had brought his daughter … Read more
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing in our New Year Flash Sale. Counting has begun in Taiwan in one of the most closely watched elections this year. The island’s 19 million-plus voters have cast their ballots to decide who will … Read more
“Full combat readiness, vigorous training, [Taiwan’s armed forces] are the guardians of national security and the defenders of freedom and democracy!” the post said. Who is running in Taiwan’s presidential race and what does it mean for Beijing? Taiwan will hold its presidential and legislative elections on Saturday. William Lai Ching-te, vice-president and candidate of … Read more
According to Taiwanese media estimates, there are roughly 1.2 million people from the island living on the mainland, accounting for about 5 per cent of Taiwan’s population. Most of the voters in this group tend to support the KMT and party officials often make the trip across the Taiwan Strait before elections. 05:27 Taiwan election … Read more
Taiwan’s opposition set for last-ditch talks on joint presidential ticket “I believe Bi-khim is definitely the best person when it comes to Taiwan’s foreign work today and she is also a rare diplomatic talent,” Lai said on Facebook on Monday. He said Hsiao had helped improve the island’s ties with Washington in recent years, and … Read more
“China cut off communication channels with the DPP when Tsai Ing-wen was elected [as president in 2016] … I think that was an unrealistic stance. I wish China would moderate that stance and be willing to open channels, informal or formal,” said Douglas Paal, the head of the American Institute in Taiwan – the de … Read more
On Tuesday, Hou Yu-ih, the KMT’s presidential candidate and New Taipei mayor, proposed that the two sides each appoint their own pollsters to compare the polling, but this was rejected by TPP chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je. “There was no consensus at that time [Saturday] … and what’s the point of having more talks … Read more
