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Taiwan election 2024
ChinaPolitics

Frontrunner William Lai challenged to renounce independence in first Taiwan election debate

  • KMT candidate warns pro-independence stance could lead to war as presidential hopefuls lay out their policies in televised exchange
  • All three candidates say they would strengthen the island’s defensive capability while working for peace across the Taiwan Strait

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Taiwanese presidential candidate William Lai Ching-te (centre), was urged to abandon his pro-independence stance by his main rival in the island’s first televised debate before the January 13 poll. Photo: EPA
Lawrence Chungin Taipei
Cross-strait peace remains the paramount issue in next month’s presidential election in Taiwan, with all three candidates scrambling to assure voters that they are the best choice to achieve it, despite Beijing’s growing threats to attack the island.
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In the campaign’s first televised policy presentation on Wednesday night, main opposition candidate Hou Yu-ih dared leading contender William Lai Ching-te to abandon his pro-independence stand, suggesting it would lead to war.

Hou – the New Taipei mayor standing for the mainland-friendly main opposition party Kuomintang – described Lai, currently Taiwanese vice-president, as a hardcore pro-independence supporter.

“Are you willing to give up your advocacy of Taiwan independence? Mr Lai, you are the chairman of the [ruling] Democratic Progressive Party. Are you willing to abolish the [DPP’s] independence platform so that the public can … rest assured?” Hou said.

Hou said Lai’s election campaign assurance that he would not declare independence if elected were meant to “wangle votes” from the public.

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“Taiwan independence would lead to war,” Hou said, adding that he did not support such a stand and that he would do all he could to uphold cross-strait peace and stability.

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