New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) presidential candidate, yesterday criticized Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Vice President William Lai (賴清德), saying the latter’s true colors of supporting Taiwanese independence would bring disaster to the Taiwan Strait.
Hou made the remark during the KMT’s new year flag-raising ceremony at its headquarters in Taipei.
Taiwan is facing labor shortages, low wages, high inflation and price hikes, which “make it impossible for the nation’s economy to grow,” he said.
Photo: CNA
Other economic challenges include a Chinese investigation into Taiwan’s trade barriers and being unable to join regional trading entities, he said.
Taiwanese chose “lack” (que, 缺) as last year’s word of the year, he said, adding that the DPP lacks the ability to govern and to reflect, he said, going on to criticize Lai’s remarks that the Republic of China (ROC) and the ROC Constitution are disasters, saying that they must have provoked profound thoughts for many Taiwanese.
Hou was referring to something Lai said in the televised presidential debate on Saturday: “Is regarding the ROC as a ‘sacred mountain protecting the country’ going to promote peace or bring disaster to Taiwan?” later clarifying that he meant “the ROC Constitution” rather than “the ROC.”
Lai supporting Taiwan independence at heart would make the Taiwan Strait unstable and unsafe, Hou said.
Hou vowed to protect the ROC and its people, proposing his “deterrence, dialogue, de-escalation” strategy to peacefully resolve the differences between China and Taiwan.
Taiwan should contribute to regional stability instead of provoking war by seeking independence, he said.
Hou solicited votes for himself and his running mate, Broadcasting Corp of China chairman Chao Shao-kang (趙少康), saying that they could bring a good life and a happy future to Taiwanese.
KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said Hou truly loves Taiwan and would fight for the nation.
If elected, Hou would uphold the spirit of former president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), who dedicated his life to serving the country and was always diligent and honest, improving Taiwan, Chu said.
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