Who is vying to become next president of Taiwan?

• Taiwan is gearing up for its presidential and parliamentary elections.
• Taiwan is set to vote on January 13.
• Lai and Tsai say only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.

Taiwan is gearing up for its presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for January 13, occurring every four years.

Here’s an overview of the presidential candidates and their stances on relations with China:

LAI CHING-TE

Lai, also known as William, is the candidate representing the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Currently serving as Taiwan’s vice president and leading the DPP as its chairman, he consistently leads in public opinion polls.

Lai, in tandem with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, has extended offers for talks with China, but these proposals have been declined by Beijing, which views them as separatists. Lai and Tsai assert that only the people of Taiwan should determine their future.

HOU YU-IH

Hou is the presidential candidate from Taiwan’s primary opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), which relocated to the island in 1949 following a civil war loss to Mao Zedong’s communists.

Hou currently serves as the mayor of New Taipei, a city neighboring Taipei. Although he won re-election in a landslide last year, he typically ranks third in presidential election opinion polls. The KMT historically supports closer ties with China but vehemently denies being pro-Beijing. Hou has stated his intent to restart talks with Beijing.

KO WEN-JE

Ko, a former mayor of Taipei, is the candidate representing the smaller Taiwan People’s Party. While some polls indicate he is quickly gaining ground and catching up with Lai, most position him in second place. Ko has suggested that China should propose a new framework for engagement with Taiwan and clarify what Beijing has to offer.

TERRY GOU

Gou, a billionaire and the founder of Foxconn, a significant Apple supplier (2317.TW), is running as an independent candidate but currently has low polling numbers.

Gou has accused the ruling DPP of pushing the island to the brink of war with China through its adversarial policies. He claims that his extensive business and personal connections in both China and the U.S. uniquely position him to maintain peace.

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