Key Points
TAIPEIA last-minute effort by Taiwans opposition parties to combine forces in a coming presidential election has crumbled in spectacular fashion, increasing the likelihood that the island democracy will continue as a central flashpoint in ties between the U.S. and China..
Taiwans main opposition Nationalist Party, also known as the Kuomintang, struck a surprise deal last week with the Taiwan Peoples Party to unite in a coalition ticket favoring friendlier ties with China that political analysts said had a real shot of coming out on top in the islands presidential contest in January..
The agreement began to unravel almost immediately after it was announced and appeared to fully fall apart at a press conference on Thursday evening, during which the parties candidates traded veiled insults with each other and another opposition candidate, Foxconn founder Terry Gou, before walking out in front of several dozen reporters..
The Kuomintangs nominee, Hou Yu-ih, and Ko Wen-je, the TPP candidate, separately registered with Taiwans Central Election Commission within an hour of each other on Fridaythe last day for officially declaring a candidacyconfirming the death of the deal..
A seasoned politician and campaigner, Lai is seen by Beijing as a more aggressive advocate of Taiwan independence than his boss, President Tsai Ing-wen, who is scheduled to leave office in May due to term limits. . Lai has said he would continue Tsais policy of maintaining the status quo in relations with China..
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