ReutersThe polling stations in the capital Taipei, among others, opened at 8 a.m. local time
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 04:50
-
Sjoerd den Daas
correspondent China
-
Sjoerd den Daas
correspondent China
Polls are open in Taiwan for an election that will set the tone for China-Taiwan relations. Will the China-critical DPP get a third term, or will Taiwan and the Kuomintang opt for rapprochement with China again?
The main contenders for the presidency are William Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the current ruling party, and Hou Yu-yi of the Kuomintang. In the streets of Penghu they hang directly opposite each other, on large election signs.
The Penghus, also called the Pescadors, are located in the middle of the Taiwan Strait. Closer to Taiwan than to China, but still: China is never far away. “We often come across them,” says one of the many fishermen at the morning auction, as he transfers the fish to shore. “They are emptying our waters.” Today, Taiwanese elect a new parliament, in addition to a new president.
-
NOS
Election poster in Taiwan with William Lai on the right
-
NOS
Poster with Hou Yu-yi on the right
It deals a lot with domestic themes. “Something has to be done in the housing market. Homes are unaffordable,” Ziyi shares her frustrations. She is a taxi driver on the main island of Penghu. “I especially value healthcare and transport,” says a chestnut seller at the island’s largest market.
“The weather in the country is good, I just cast my vote,” Tsai Ing-wen, the current president, shared on social media app Line. “I hope everyone will use their vote to determine the future of the country.” Much is at stake. In addition to the domestic themes, the economy for example, the relationship with China is the hottest issue.
Chinese intimidation
Developments in Hong Kong played a major role in the 2020 elections. The large-scale protests against a controversial extradition treaty with China and Beijing’s subsequent crusade against freedoms once again held up a mirror to the Taiwanese: this is how party boss Xi Jinping’s China operates.
“They have to leave and never come back,” says one of the retirees on the island, when asked about the impact of the Chinese intimidation. Last year, China further increased the pressure on Taiwan, sending a record number of fighter planes to the Taiwan Strait. In recent weeks, China has again kept a low profile on this front. It did send several balloons.
“It is better for the tourism sector if both sides of the street talk to each other,” says his comrade. “That way there are more opportunities to make money.” It is the most important choice at hand: continue the independent course of the DPP, or opt for the opposition party KMT. Although that party does not advocate ‘reunification’ with China, it does support closer ties with the People’s Republic.
Press Taiwanese
In the run-up to the elections, Beijing has increased pressure on Taiwanese to make the ‘right choice’. Traditional DPP strongholds in particular suffered. With economic sanctions against fruit farmers, among others, China hopes to change the minds of the DPP’s supporters, although they are not very impressed.
“Prices in China are higher than in Japan,” says Cheng, whose mangoes no longer reach China. Like many farmers in the region, he now focuses mainly on South Korea and Japan. “The requirements there are strict, the price is slightly lower. But I prefer a stable partner and a lower price than doing business with a dictatorship where prices are higher. You never know when they don’t want your stuff anymore.”
NOSFruitboer Cheng
The streets of Penghu also feature large posters of multi-billionaire Terry Gou, the founder of iPhone maker Foxconn. He had stood as a candidate for the presidential elections in Taiwan, but disappeared from the scene after his company in China came under fire from the tax inspectorate. The door of the campaign office is closed, Gou withdrew.
Conflict
China has an interest in this: Gou drew voters away from China’s hoped-for winner, the KMT. It remains to be seen whether he will win. Many voters are still floating. The most recent polls, from ten days ago, indicate a battle between the DPP and the KMT. DPP candidate Lai had about 36 percent of the votes, Hou van the KMT at 31 percent.
The third candidate is Ko Wen-je of the opposition TPP, the Taiwan People’s Party. He follows at some distance with 22 percent. A list connection with the KMT broke down. His gap with the two leaders seems unbridgeable. In parliament, where neither the DPP nor the KMT appear to be heading for a majority, a key role may lie ahead for him.
China has framed the elections as a choice between war and peace. But in Penghu, the front line of the conflict, they try to keep a cool head as much as possible. “We want to keep the peace,” said Chen Hui-Chuan, who is running as an independent candidate in the parliamentary elections on the archipelago. “People will resist if violence is used, but there will be many casualties.”
2024-01-13 03:50:00
#Taiwan #polls #president #parliament
