ELECTION 2024/DPP record slated by KMT, TPP candidates at vice presidential debate

Taipei, Jan. 1 (CNA) Taiwan's two opposition vice presidential candidates used a debate forum to criticize the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) record in office Monday, with the DPP nominee adopting a more defensive posture.

The first and only vice presidential debate featured the DPP's Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), the Kuomintang's (KMT) Jaw Shau-kong (趙少康), and Wu Hsin-ying (吳欣盈) of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) in their final head-to-head, at Public Television Service headquarters in Taipei, ahead of the Jan. 13 election.

With the DPP ticket leading national polls going into the debate, and the election less than two weeks away, the pressure was on Jaw to deliver a strong performance.

In his opening statement, the KMT nominee addressed a controversy the DPP had highlighted by announcing live his resignation as chairman of Taipei-based Broadcasting Corporation of China, seeking to portray himself as a champion of media neutrality.

He then picked up a pen and signed a resignation letter, which he read out aloud, all while criticizing the family residence of DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te (賴清德) in New Taipei, a residence that opposition parties allege is illegal and has undergone multiple illegal expansions.

Jaw said that if elected, he would re-purpose the vice presidential official mansion into housing for young people.

"I estimate it could house approximately 10 to 20 individuals, but if we engage in unauthorized construction on the official residence, similar to what Lai [did with his family home], the yard will be spacious enough to accommodate at least 100 young people," he said.

The KMT nominee also highlighted his transparency credentials and announced: "Alright, since the vice president doesn't have much to do, I solemnly declare here that if I are elected, I won't take a single penny of salary or any benefits for the vice president position."

The DPP's Hsiao chose not address the dispute over Lai's family home but instead devoted a considerable portion of her time to defending the record of the DPP government. This included addressing Jaw's claim that foreign investors are reluctant to come to Taiwan due to safety concerns.

Dismissing the statement as misinformation, Hsiao said that under President Tsai Ing-wen's (蔡英文) administration, foreign investment in Taiwan has soared to new heights.

According to Hsiao, over NT$2 trillion (US$65.1 billion) of foreign capital has flowed into Taiwan, with Taiwanese businessmen "returning to invest" as well.

In response to two major concerns facing Taiwan -- a declining birthrate and aging population -- brought up by the TPP's Wu in the debate, Hsiao said that presently, assisted reproductive technologies, such as artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization, are being employed to aid childbirth.

President Tsai is expected to allocate a budget increase of over NT$80 billion for long-term care, comprehensively caring for the elderly to ensure they enjoy a healthy retirement, the former representative to the United States added.

Meanwhile, Wu, heiress to the family that owns the conglomerate Shin Kong Group, presented herself as an alternative to the two major "establishment" parties.

As a Taiwanese and a "new mother," she does not accept the dominance of the two older parties but rather wants to help Taiwanese people "break free" from the painful cycle of KMT-DPP rivalry, she said.

While discussing various topics such as energy policy, information security and Taiwan's international position, Wu refused to be sidelined in the debate and asked Jaw not to "treat her like air" amid the KMT candidate's continuous attacks on the DPP nominee.

Wu then claimed that recent polls show 30 percent of Taiwanese support her party, encouraging the public not to engage in the "strategic voting" promoted by the KMT to win over TPP supporters.

"Please do not engage in tactical voting because doing so means losing your voting rights," she urged, adding that Taiwanese are fortunate to have the right to vote and should not waste it.

"The people of China cannot make these decisions, so everyone must come out and vote for the best candidate in their heart," she said.

Cross-strait issues

In the midst of the heated debate on cross-strait issues, Wu once again criticized the two major parties for either leaning towards China or opposing it, alleging that both have "compromised Taiwan's autonomy."

According to Wu, the TPP advocates maintaining the status quo, promoting cross-strait peace, and engaging in cooperation when possible and competition when necessary.

In their cross-examination and closing remarks, China once again took center stage in the statements of the candidates from the two major parties.

Jaw repeated his claim that the DPP has made Taiwan less safe. He cited an incident one year ago when his company approached pop superstar Taylor Swift to hold a concert in Taiwan, but the proposal fell through due to "geopolitical risks."

He went on to frame the upcoming election as a choice between "war and peace," arguing that choosing Lai would worsen cross-strait relations and mark the beginning of a dangerous period, instilling a sense of uncertainty and crisis in the public.

For instance, the visit of former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan in August 2022 resulted in continuous provocations by Chinese military aircraft, encircling Taiwan, "what could the Americans have done?," he said.

The DPP nominee replied that the globally acknowledged source of risk for Taiwan is the Chinese Communist Party, not the DPP, not Lai Ching-te.

Instead of blaming Pelosi, who came to support Taiwan and not challenge the status quo or aim to change the U.S.' One-China policy, "you are aligning yourselves with the stance of China's Taiwan Affairs Office," she said, landing a rare blow.

Meanwhile, the TPP's Wu concluded by saying that based on the comments of the KMT and DPP nominees, it is clear the two major parties are increasingly detached from the daily realities of the Taiwanese people.

Like TPP presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), Wu said a government led by her party would introduce a new political culture, offering a "restart" and a fresh opportunity for peace and prosperity.

"I believe that the diligent people of Taiwan deserve a better life," she said.

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