Taiwan's CEC discloses financial status of presidential candidate duos

Taipei, Dec. 5 (CNA) Taiwan's Central Election Commission (CEC) on Tuesday published financial disclosures statements for all three presidential candidates and their running mates, while confirming their eligibility to contest the 2024 presidential election.

According to property declarations from the presidential candidates, Lai Ching-te (賴清德) of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has a plot of land and a property in Tainan, a Toyota car, a bank deposit with NT$2.15 million (US$68,000) and 13 life insurance savings policies, as well as a housing loan worth NT$13.86 million.

Meanwhile, Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) filed two plots of land and three properties in Taipei and Chiayi County, with bank savings of NT$39.58 million, bonds totaling NT$4.03 million, and three life insurance savings policies.

Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) of the smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP) reported nine plots of land and six properties in Taipei, Hsinchu City, and Penghu County, with total bank deposits of NT$24.6 million, NT$950,000 worth of fund benefit certificates, and seven life insurance savings policies.

In terms of vice presidential candidates, the DPP's Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) reported one plot of land and seven properties in New Taipei, a Toyota and a Kuozui car, NT$15 million in bank deposits, benefit certificates valued at NT$2.7 million, five life insurance policies, and a housing loan of NT$1.69 million.

The KMT's Jaw Shau-kong (趙少康) filed three plots of land and 12 properties in Taipei and New Taipei, NT$79 million in bank deposits, stocks valued at NT$33.4 million and a housing loan of NT$47 million.

The TPP's Wu Hsin-ying (吳欣盈) owns one plot of land in New Taipei and a property in the United Kingdom, a Mini Cooper car, NT$2.5 million in bank deposits, securities valued at NT$36.71 million, a set of sapphire jewelry worth NT$8 million and two life insurance policies, while carrying a debt of NT$9.9 million.

Meanwhile, all candidates comply with national regulations, including citizenship requirements, to run in the Jan. 13 election, with none of them holding a foreign nationality. In addition, none of the candidates has ever lost or reapplied for restoration of Republic of China (ROC) nationality, according to the CEC, which will announce the official roster on Dec. 15.

In Taiwan, candidates for public office are not allowed to hold dual nationality, and people who are naturalized or who have had their citizenship restored after giving it up cannot legally hold office.

Wu was previously dogged by allegations that she had not relinquished her United States citizenship, while questions also arose over whether Hsiao, who was born in Japan and lived in the U.S. for some of her childhood, had always been an ROC citizen.