ELECTION 2024/Presidential candidates voice disapproval of foreign electoral interference

Taipei, Dec. 30 (CNA) All three of Taiwan's presidential candidates voiced disapproval of foreign electoral interference during Saturday's televised debate, with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) agreeing on heavier penalties for those leaking military secrets.

The candidates, also including the Kuomintang's (KMT) Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜), expressed disapproval of foreign forces influencing the outcome of Taiwan's elections, with Lai and Ko agreeing that existing laws should be revised to deter people from assisting hostile foreign forces.

They were responding to the question raised by CNA editor-in-chief Chris Wang (王思捷), who brought up the issue of China's infiltration of and interference in Taiwan's elections, specifically through efforts to target serving and retired military officers, and asked for the candidate's opinions on the fact "those guilty of drunk driving or corruption are currently penalized more harshly than those committing treasonous acts."

Lai said that China has attempted to intervene in every Taiwanese election but that "this time it is the most serious."

He noted the seriousness of Taiwan's military officers being turned by China, but also praised the majority of the serving and retiring officers who he said have remained steadfastly loyal to Taiwan.

Lai proposed educational and legal methods to solve the problem of China's infiltration into Taiwan's military and society.

"We should strengthen national security education and consolidate national recognition," he said.

"In terms of legislation, as every [infiltration] case has included a middleman, such as a retired general or serving officer, the law needs to better target that," the DPP candidate said.

Ko also raised the need to strengthen Taiwan's internal security by increasing the penalty for leaking classified information.

The TPP candidate said it was necessary to up the penalty for leaking classified documents, adding that doing so in some European countries and the U.S. can lead to up to 19 years in jail.

Internal management to identify this kind of behavior must also be run more effectively, he said, adding that "a better 'SOP' [standard operating procedure] regarding documenting certain interactions [with foreign entities] was needed."

Improvements are also needed in terms of cyber security, Ko said, adding, "What matters the most is not preventing hackers, but ensuring the basics are done, such as regularly changing passwords."

He also stressed that infiltration prevention in the end comes down to "discipline" and heavy penalties, particularly regarding civil servants and the military.

Meanwhile, Hou said he is against foreign forces interfering in Taiwan's elections.

"Taiwan is a country with a democratic and free system, and we have to have faith in that to protect it," Hou said.

However, he pointed out the problem of "being investigated for simply traveling to the mainland," adding that laws must not be manipulated nor used as a "political tool."

Hou was referring to recent cases of ward chiefs being investigated and detained for their involvement in organizing "disproportionately subsidized" trips to China.

Saturday's debate, which lasted around 2.5 hours, was the only one of this election season featuring presidential candidates.

Further reading

▶ Presidential hopefuls in full attack mode in TV debate

▶ Taiwan's presidential candidates tackle death penalty in debate

▶ DPP, KMT candidates reject independence, pro-China labels at debate

Related News

▶ Taiwan's presidential candidates hold televised debate