The three men vying to be Taiwan's next president

2024-01-05 10:10:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The three men vying to be Taiwan's next president

Ko Wen-je, Hou Yu-ih and William Lai

On January 13, Taiwan will elect a new president in a critical contest that could redefine the island's relationship with China.

Beijing has long claimed self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province and has been awaiting the island's elections since the first in 1996.

This year's race to replace President Tsai Ing-wen is taking place at a time when Taiwan has emerged as a key flashpoint between the US and China.

Geopolitics, low wages and rising home prices are among the domestic challenges weighing on voters.

The current vice president from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is on the ballot. He is leading the polls by a narrow margin, trailed by a former police chief running for the main opposition party.

Chair: William Lai Ching-te, DPP

The three men vying to be Taiwan's next president

He may be soft-spoken, but Taiwan's 64-year-old vice president is a staunch defender of the island's self-governing status. During his tenure as President Tsai's prime minister from 2017 to 2019, Lai described himself as a "pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence".

Booked: Hou Yu-ih, KMT

The three men vying to be Taiwan's next president

As a child, Mr. Hou supported his family's business by catching pigs or helping out at their pig stall at a local market.

The 66-year-old once said the skills he developed while dealing with pigs helped build his career as a policeman. He helped arrest high-profile assassins and was also a lead investigator in the assassination of former president Chen Shui-bian in 2004. The
former police chief returned to politics in 2010 and became mayor of New Taipei City, the most Taiwan's most populous in 2018. He was re-elected by a landslide in 2022.

Hou opposes Taiwan independence, but has largely avoided expressing his stance on China in this campaign. This lack of clarity has drawn criticism.

Wild card: Ko Wenje, TPP

The three men vying to be Taiwan's next president

The eccentric doctor-turned-politician casts himself as a "third choice" for voters between provocation and a push towards China.

Taiwan People's Party (TPP) leader Ko Wen-je has proved popular among young voters. He has fallen behind as the race has gone on, with TPOF predicting he will leave with 25% of the vote. His ratings have dropped recently./ CNA