Presidential candidates dig in their heels over policy toward China

Taipei, Dec. 20 (CNA) All three presidential contenders stood firm on their respective cross-Taiwan Strait policy at the first televised policy presentation Wednesday, each arguing that they are best positioned to safeguard the country while dealing with China.

While the candidates largely repeated their existing policies toward China, they also took the opportunity to criticize each other for endangering the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name).

The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) fired the first shot, urging his main opponent Lai Ching-te (賴清德) of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to "publicly renounce" his pro-independence stance.

Hou noted that Lai, the incumbent vice president, has on more than one occasions described himself as a "pragmatic political worker for Taiwanese independence."

Lai last made such a remark publicly in 2017, when he was addressing the Legislature in his capacity as premier of the President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) government.

Hou, who is currently the New Taipei mayor, went on to say that Taiwanese voters and overseas observers remained "worried" about Lai's position, even though the DPP candidate has said he had "no plans to declare [formal] independence."

"[Advocating] Taiwanese independence will bring Taiwan closer to war [with China]," Hou argued, reiterating the KMT's framing of the presidential election scheduled for Jan. 13, 2024, as a vote for either war or peace.

Lai refuted such claim in his remarks, even though he did not address his past pro-independence comments.

"We three people here running for president are all Taiwanese independence [supporters] in the eyes of China" given that Beijing does not recognize the ROC government, according to Lai.

The DPP candidate then criticized Hou and Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) for their approach to peace, which he said would eventually bring about Taiwan's "unification" with China.

He added that his approach would ensure the status quo of the Taiwan Strait.

Lai has proposed a "four-pillar" plan to safeguard Taiwan in the face of the growing military threat posed by China, which includes enhancing deterrence and boosting the country's defense capabilities, among other actions.

Both Hou and Ko have made similar pledges as part of their defense policy.

"No one will entrust the security of a country entirely to the goodwill of others," Ko said in his presentation, adding that Taiwan must have "enough defense power" to be able to negotiate with China on equal terms and dignity.

With that in mind, Ko, who founded the TPP in 2019, said he would raise government spending on defense, which in 2024 is expected to reach 2.5 percent of GDP, to 3 percent.