Taiwanese are not the best at critical thinking and often lack a sufficient understanding of public policy. This leads to unsatisfactory governance and management performances. Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je’s (柯文哲) approval ratings are evidence of this. Taiwanese need to ask themselves what kind of president they want.
First, to face hardship, at home and abroad, Taiwan needs a president who is firm, rational, persistent, courageous and wise. Such a leader must lead the nation out of its current predicament. It does not need a person who is reckless, impatient and unthinking.
Second, Taiwan needs a president with a firm command of foreign affairs, specifically cross-strait relations and international diplomacy. They must be able to connect Taiwan with the international community to come up with ways to enhancing national defense. They should keep improving Taiwan’s programs to domestically manufacture warships, but must also know how to communicate with China to maintain cross-strait peace. The president should not trigger further conflict in the region.
Third, Taiwan needs a president who can maintain and bolster relations with the US to ensure the nation’s safety. Over the past few years, Taiwan has not agitated China, and the situation in the Strait has not changed as a result. Meanwhile, it has won the trust of the US, with the US Congress passing the Taiwan Travel Act, the Taiwan Assurance Act and provisions related to Taiwan in the National Defense Authorization Act.
Fourth, Taiwan needs a president with experience in managing finance, renewable energy, environmental issues, education and social welfare. Taiwan is facing a series of problems including an economic transition, insufficient investment, difficulty in participating in regional economic activities, wealth disparities, green-energy development, and the effects of an aging society and low birthrate. The president should be able to boost the economy, lessen wealth inequality, mitigate generational gaps, enhance the quality of education and environment, and institute social welfare programs.
Taiwanese cannot elect a person who lacks a comprehensive vision, nor can they vote for a politician who cannot govern a city — one who is instead focused on being fun and sensationalist, and who speaks rashly and causes problems.
Fifth, Taiwan needs a president who can carry out reforms and adhere to progressive values. With the return of former Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) as part of a deep-blue conservative force, Taiwan needs a leader who can establish cultural and social values in a more profound way to transform Taiwan into a modern nation.
Ko in no way meets those five requirements. His performance shows that he is not qualified to be a national leader. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) knows well that Ko is less capable than its candidate, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), and even less capable than Vice President William Lai (賴清德), the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) presidential candidate.
However, to win the presidential election by collaborating with Ko, the KMT dares not challenge him. Now, Ko is taking advantage of the pan-blue camp, advocating for strategic voting. Former KMT secretary-general King Pu-tsung (金溥聰), Hou’s campaign manager, could not oppose Ko’s scheme and hence proposed adopting a US-style primary election to save the KMT.
To prevent Ko from mobilizing young voters and pan-blue camp supporters, the approval ratings of the pan-white and pan-blue camps need to be kept in balance.
That would minimize Ko’s effect on Lai, so that the DPP can win the presidential election.
Michael Lin is a retired diplomat who served in the US.
Translated by Emma Liu
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