As Taiwan’s KMT votes for new chairman, a moment of cross-strait reckoning

Result of four-way race will decide whether century-old party stays true to mainland-centric-roots or leans towards a more Taiwan-centric outlook

Among contenders is a relatively little-known NGO chief, who has impressed hardline ‘deep blue’ members with calls for cross-strait unification

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Chang Ya-chung, who has won over ‘deep blue’ hardline KMT members by openly embracing Taiwan reunification, speaks to the press after voting at a polling station in Taipei on September 25. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:26pm, 25 Sep 2021Updated: 2:55pm, 25 Sep 2021

All hopes of Taiwan’s main opposition party are riding on their new leader, as members vote to elect a new chairman who could help steer the century-old group back to power in 2024.

Billed as a vote between the Chinese Nationalist Party and the “Taiwan Nationalist Party”, the results of today’s election for Kuomintang chairman may also decide whether the KMT would return to its old mainland-centric ideology or adhere to a relatively more Taiwan-centric position.

Some 370,000 members are eligible to vote in the race that has incumbent Johnny Chiang, 49, a legislator from Taichung, fighting off a challenge from former chairman and ex-vice premier Eric Chu Li-luan, 60, scholar-turned-politician Chang Ya-chung, 66, and former Changhua magistrate Cho Po-yuan, 56.

KMT members register before voting to elect a new chairman at a polling station in Taipei on September 25. Photo: AFP

Voting began at 8am, with ballots being cast at 422 KMT polling stations all over the island before the stations close at 4pm. Results are expected by 7pm.

Even until late last month, all eyes were still on the fierce campaign between Chu, who is also a former New Taipei mayor, and the incumbent chairman, Chiang.

As Taiwan’s KMT votes for new chairman, a moment of cross-strait reckoning

Result of four-way race will decide whether century-old party stays true to mainland-centric-roots or leans towards a more Taiwan-centric outlook Among contenders is a relatively little-known NGO chief, who has impressed hardline ‘deep blue’ members with calls for cross-strait unification

Result of four-way race will decide whether century-old party stays true to mainland-centric-roots or leans towards a more Taiwan-centric outlook

Among contenders is a relatively little-known NGO chief, who has impressed hardline ‘deep blue’ members with calls for cross-strait unification