Taiwan's 2024 Presidential Elections: A Conversation with Eric Huang and Fei-fan Lin
Aug 31, 2023
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Eric Huang and Fei-fan Lin, representing KMT and DPP respectively, discuss Taiwan's 2024 Presidential Elections. They share insights on political agendas, cross-Strait relations, and Vice President Lai's US transit. The guests highlight the basis for a dialogue with China proposed by each candidate and provide pointers for election watchers. Topics include defense capabilities, polling results, important dates, and the impact on cross-strait relations.
The KMT candidate aims to maintain stability in cross-strait relations through dialogue and cooperation with the United States, while the DPP candidate emphasizes national defense capabilities, social welfare policies, and dialogue with China without preconditions to maintain peace and stability.
The KMT candidate is known for his centrist platform and focus on people's livelihoods, while the DPP candidate highlights the need to strengthen Taiwan's defense capabilities, support dialogues without preconditions, and counter China's aggressive actions.
Deep dives
Overview of Taiwan's upcoming presidential election
This episode of the China Power Podcast discusses Taiwan's January 2024 presidential election. The focus is on the political agendas and goals of the Gomitang Party and the Democratic Progressive Party. The KMT candidate, Holyo-e, is described as centrist, known for his hard work and commitment to people's livelihood. He aims to maintain stability in cross-strait relations through dialogue and cooperation with the United States. VP Lai, the DPP candidate, emphasizes national defense capabilities, social welfare policies, and dialogue with China without preconditions to maintain peace and stability.
Fei-Fan's perspective on Vice President Lai
Fei-Fan, a close advisor of Vice President Lai, highlights Lai's extensive experience in governance at different levels, from legislature to mayor to premier. He emphasizes Lai's policies on national defense, cross-strait dialogues without preconditions, and domestic issues such as housing and wages. Fei-Fan sees the need to strengthen Taiwan's defense capabilities to deter potential threats and maintain stability. He also stresses the importance of productive dialogues with China, while reaffirming DPP's commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Eric's perspective on KMT candidate Hoyo-e
Eric provides insights into Hoyo-e, the KMT candidate and former mayor of New Taipei City. Hoyo-e is known for his centrist platform and focus on people's livelihoods. Eric believes Hoyo-e has better governing experience than the other candidates and a strong group of advisors. He highlights Hoyo-e's position of cooperating with the United States and maintaining productive dialogue with China to navigate Taiwan's role amidst U.S.-China competition. Eric also emphasizes KMT's commitment to building defense capabilities and cultivating a culture of preparedness.
Future of cross-strait relations
Both Fei-Fan and Eric acknowledge the changing strategic environment around Taiwan and the increasing tensions with China. While they hold different perspectives, both candidates value maintaining stability and peace in cross-strait relations. Fei-Fan emphasizes the need to strengthen Taiwan's defense capabilities, support dialogues without preconditions, and counter China's aggressive actions. Eric highlights the KMT's position of abiding by the 1992 consensus and maintaining the current status quo. Going forward, they expect cross-strait relations to be a key issue in the election, with each candidate articulating their policies more clearly.
In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, we are joined by Eric Huang and Fei-fan Lin. Representing the Kuomintang (KMT) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) respectively, they share their views on the upcoming 2024 Taiwan presidential election and Vice President Lai’s recent U.S. transit. They shed insight on the political agendas of the two parties and speak to approaches the candidates may take on cross-Strait relations. Both guests highlight the basis for a dialogue with China that each candidate proposes and provide the audience with pointers of what to pay attention to as the elections approach.
Eric Huang is currently a Mason Fellow at Harvard University, where he is pursing a masters in Public Administration. Previously, he served as the Spokesperson for the KMT and then as Deputy Director of the International Affairs Department. He was appointed as the KMT Deputy Representative in the United States and was an adjunct lecturer at Taiwan’s Tamkang University. Eric received his master’s degree in International Political Economy at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and was a visiting fellow at CSIS earlier this year.
Fei-fan Lin is a board member of the New Frontier Foundation, the official think tank of the DPP in Taiwan. He was a student activist who led the Sunflower Movement in 2014 and joined the DPP as the party’s Deputy Secretary-General in 2019. He received his master’s degree in Political Science from National Taiwan University and was also a visiting fellow at CSIS earlier this year.
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