Theoretically, arranged marriages work because the union benefits from the experience and wisdom of the matchmakers, while unions born of love succeed due to the strength of the bonds that see the partners hold on to each other through thick and thin.
Neither of these dynamics applies to the proposed “blue-white alliance” between the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) presidential candidate, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), which amounts to little more than a marriage of convenience.
Hou and Ko separately held news conferences to discuss the proposal on Tuesday.
Hou said that he would accept being placed second on the ticket, but an alliance would only make sense if both men’s names were listed.
First, there is no way that the KMT would accept its candidate playing second fiddle. Second, even though the media is not privy to the talks, it seems like Ko has expressed doubts about whether he wants Hou on the same ticket.
Hou himself admitted that Ko has not made it clear yet whether he wants to take Hou as his “wife.”
Considering Hou said that, he must be expecting to be rejected. It has been suggested that Ko has his eyes on former Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) or independent presidential candidate Hon Hai Precision Industry Co founder Terry Gou (郭台銘).
Ko said he felt like being forced into a marriage, but he does have the option of saying no.
He also expressed concerns about the larger KMT trying to strong-arm the smaller TPP.
This is exactly what is happening, although it is unclear why he would be surprised and where — given this realization — he sees the relationship going after the honeymoon period.
Ko acknowledges that the TPP and the KMT have different cultures and agendas, but he sees the alliance as desirable to oust the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), as he believes two terms in office has made the DPP arrogant. As a doctor, Ko accurately diagnosed the KMT to be just as arrogant, and determined that the relationship’s future did not look good.
This coalition experiment is new for Taiwan’s democratic development, and it needs to be done correctly.
If the two parties cannot agree now, if the basis for the inability to reach an agreement is a lack of mutual trust and difference in vision, and the ties that bind are only a shared determination to oust the DPP, what are the chances that the two parties would be able to maintain a unity of purpose in government? With the longstanding lack of intraparty unity the KMT is notorious for and the inexperience of the TPP, what are the chances that there would not be a huge bust-up in the aftermath of the election?
Hou and Ko are negotiating this alliance as if it would be Ko and Hou running the show, but if we have learned anything from the KMT’s campaign thus far, it is that the shadow of former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has loomed large in the background. Ko should be careful about whom he ends up with in the marital bed.
The election is not about winning on Jan. 13. It is about earning the right to govern, and from there to govern effectively.
Trying to force a partnership between Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) and Intel Corp would be a wildly complex ordeal. Already, the reported request from the Trump administration for TSMC to take a controlling stake in Intel’s US factories is facing valid questions about feasibility from all sides. Washington would likely not support a foreign company operating Intel’s domestic factories, Reuters reported — just look at how that is going over in the steel sector. Meanwhile, many in Taiwan are concerned about the company being forced to transfer its bleeding-edge tech capabilities and give up its strategic advantage. This is especially
US President Donald Trump’s second administration has gotten off to a fast start with a blizzard of initiatives focused on domestic commitments made during his campaign. His tariff-based approach to re-ordering global trade in a manner more favorable to the United States appears to be in its infancy, but the significant scale and scope are undeniable. That said, while China looms largest on the list of national security challenges, to date we have heard little from the administration, bar the 10 percent tariffs directed at China, on specific priorities vis-a-vis China. The Congressional hearings for President Trump’s cabinet have, so far,
For years, the use of insecure smart home appliances and other Internet-connected devices has resulted in personal data leaks. Many smart devices require users’ location, contact details or access to cameras and microphones to set up, which expose people’s personal information, but are unnecessary to use the product. As a result, data breaches and security incidents continue to emerge worldwide through smartphone apps, smart speakers, TVs, air fryers and robot vacuums. Last week, another major data breach was added to the list: Mars Hydro, a Chinese company that makes Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as LED grow lights and the
The US Department of State has removed the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence” in its updated Taiwan-US relations fact sheet, which instead iterates that “we expect cross-strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on both sides of the Strait.” This shows a tougher stance rejecting China’s false claims of sovereignty over Taiwan. Since switching formal diplomatic recognition from the Republic of China to the People’s Republic of China in 1979, the US government has continually indicated that it “does not support Taiwan independence.” The phrase was removed in 2022
RSS