The News Lens
Date: 2019/12/19
By: Milo Hsieh
Taiwan’s presidential candidates attended their first televised policy presentation on December 18. This is the first time all three candidates — incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu of the Kuomintang (KMT), and James Soong of the People’s First Party (PFP) — appeared jointly in public to discuss their campaign platforms.
Although each candidate had a total of 30-minute screen time to present their proposals, no one delivered a cohesive policy outline. Instead, all candidates used their time to bash each other.
Tsai Attacks Han over Beijing Ties
Tsai has usually avoided criticizing her political rivals, but she blasted Han over several controversies during the presentation. She attacked Han’s racist and sexist rhetorics, purchase of an expensive mansion during a period of unemployment, and alleged profiting from illegal mining operations on public land.
Han has frequently branded himself a “commoner citizen,” but Tsai challenged his self-characterization by questioning his extravagant purchases. [FULL STORY]