The “blue-white” alliance B-grade movie drama finally ended with the alliance falling apart.
Every party involved had its own plans and calculations. Those who tried to work things out must feel extremely regretful.
Yet, to be fair, it is almost impossible to form an alliance between two parties that do not have much in common. It is abnormal in politics for two parties to work together when the only interest is what they can gain in the short term.
As the drama drew to a close, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) turned attention toward their respective vice presidential candidates. They also proposed concrete agendas to compete with one another fairly.
The whole world, especially China — where no democratic elections have ever been held — witnessed how Taiwan’s democracy works. Although the B-grade drama of the prospective alliance dragged on for too long, valuable democratic values were at play.
The pan-blue and white camps failed to work together, which seems to have created a great opportunity for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and it presidential candidate, Vice President William Lai (賴清德).
However, Lai and his campaign team should not let their guard down.
Lai has been emphasizing the entire time that even if he only had to defeat one rival, he would do his best to win the election.
After all, real victory means winning more than half of the votes. Only with more than half of Taiwanese supporting Lai could the DPP’s foundation in a third term as the governing party be a solid one.
The KMT’s presidential candidate, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), asked Broadcasting Corp of China chairman Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康) to be his running mate.
Jaw was once considered the KMT’s “golden boy,” before he left in 1993 to found the New Party.
In that sense, he is a “true blue” politician who is good at pulling factions together. He is a political veteran.
Lai and his team should not take him lightly.
Jaw is also eloquent and witty. He might be even more capable of mobilizing voters than former Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) was as he sought to lead the southern city.
In the presidential debates, Jaw can be expected to show his power as part of the “blue fighter” faction.
Yet there is one fatal error in selecting Jaw: His pro-China stance is too obvious and too strong. This might result in a great number of votes lost, especially among people who tend to vote according to localism and swing voters.
Lai and his team should make the most of the situation and win the hearts and minds of such people.
Jaw has accumulated a great amount of experience and a lot of connections. His political career is impressive and he might steal Hou’s thunder.
Moreover, Jaw left the KMT for several years. How well he can work with the party and Hou’s campaign team might also be a big problem.
To win the presidential election, Lai and the DPP’s vice presidential candidate, former representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), should rely on themselves.
They should not count on the weakness of their rivals or friction within their parties.
The non-green camp is replete with disputes, but that is not the point. What matters is working hard step by step, and fighting for every vote. That is the only way to achieve victory.
Chen Wen-ching works in environmental services.
Translated by Emma Liu
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