Taiwan opposition rushes to register candidates after talks implode on live TV

Ko Wen-je, Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) chairman and presidential candidate, Terry Gou, Foxconn founder and presidential candidate, former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, Hou Yu-ih presidential candidate of the main opposition party Kuomintang (KMT) and Eric Chu, Kuomintang’s Chairman attend a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan November 23, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

TAIPEI — Taiwan’s opposition parties rushed to register their candidates for president on Friday hours before a deadline after talks on running a joint ticket collapsed dramatically on live television amid bitter arguments.

The Jan. 13 election is taking place as China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, steps up military and political pressure to force the island to accept its sovereignty claims.

The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and much smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), both campaigning to forge better ties with China, had previously agreed to work together against the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) but had made no progress on plans for a united presidential ticket.

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Late Thursday, the KMT walked out of last-ditch talks held in front of reporters at a hotel conference room and shown live on television with the TPP, after failing to reach an agreement.

The talks were brokered by the billionaire founder of major Apple supplier Foxconn, Terry Gou who is standing as an independent candidate.

In one of the most dramatic moments, the KMT’s presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih read out a private text message from TPP candidate Ko Wen-je in which Ko said Gou needed to “find a reason” to drop out of the presidential race.

Hou and Ko will go to the election commission on Friday morning to register their separate presidential runs ahead of a 0930GMT registration deadline. It is unclear who they will announce as their running mates.

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Gou has trailed far behind in the polls and has not said whether he will also register.

By contrast, a united DPP has been charging ahead in its election campaign, registering its presidential and vice presidential candidates on Tuesday.

The DPP’s Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s vice president, has consistently led the polls.

At a campaign event late Thursday, Lai talked about his team’s busy schedule, discussing policy with voters and the media, and scorned the opposition’s disunity.

“Should we dare to hand over the business of running the country to these people?” Lai said. “Of course, this is not OK.”