![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.voicetube.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/94e70e00-prez-election-cover.png\")
<\/p>\nTaiwan’s presidential election is just a month away!<\/p>\n
Meet the candidates and their policies<\/p>\n
How this election could affect you<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.voicetube.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/f95db2b1-taiwan-election.png\")
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Taiwan\u2019s upcoming presidential election on January 11th, 2020 will be one of the most poignant(1) in the nation\u2019s history. This election could change the direction and future of Taiwan with respect to its energy usage, social liberties, and especially its relationships with China and the US.<\/span><\/p>\n Whether you are from Taiwan or not, this election could have consequences that affect the entire East Asian region, or even the global power structure. Today, we are going to break down this election in and tell you exactly why you should care about it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The DPP is considered to be more on the side of Taiwanese laborers and the <\/span>underprivileged(2)<\/span>. They\u2019ve traditionally done very well in southern Taiwan where there aren\u2019t as many international corporations and big businesses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The DPP is more aligned with progressive values, environmentally friendly policies, and Taiwanese Independence. This means that they are more supportive of gender equality and educational policies, and they wish to create economic ties with international multiple partners (with less reliance on China).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The DPP started in 1986 <\/span>and current President Tsai Ing-wen, is a member of this party.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The KMT formed in 1912 in mainland China and came to Taiwan with Chiang Kai-shek in1949 after losing the civil war to the Communists. The KMT has traditionally supported the \u201cOne China\u201d policy,\u00a0 but they want it ruled under the KMT, not the communists.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The KMT <\/span>has<\/span> a lot of money and owns many foreign businesses and<\/span> assets(3) that include fishing<\/span> plants in Alaska, a farm in Israel, investments in Japan and Singapore, and so on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n KMT supporters include a lot of old military personnel, law enforcement authorities, and Taiwanese international business owners. The KMT often focuses on the economy, even if that means getting cozier with China. When it comes to social issues, they tend to be more conservative.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tsai Ing-wen is the current president\u2014she assumed office in May 2016. She is generally considered the more <\/span>progressive<\/span> candidate, pushing for gender equality, clean energy, and less reliance on China. <\/span><\/p>\n Han Kuo-yu is the current mayor of Kaohsiung. He came out of nowhere and <\/span>took his party by storm(4)<\/span>. Many KMT members dislike Han, but his bold rhetoric and willingness to say whatever is on his mind has charmed certain segments of the population.<\/span><\/p>\n Tsai\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Tsai Ing-wen gave US President-elect Donald Trump an unexpected call in 2016, marking the first time a Taiwanese president spoke to a US president since 1979. It could mean Taiwan seeks a deeper relationship with the US, especially since Tsai has spent a significant amount of her presidency under the<\/span> scrutiny(5)<\/span> of China. In January 2019, she stated that the so-called \u201c1992 Consensus\u201d isn\u2019t recognized by Taiwan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Even with weakened support from China, Taiwan\u2019s economy and GDP have remained steady, maintaining three successive years of growth at 1.5%-2.5%.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Han\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n To be frank, it\u2019s really hard to tell what Han Kuo-yu thinks of China; in one instance, he supported the \u201c1992 Consensus.\u201d He also said he opposed Beijing\u2019s proposal for unification under \u201cone country, two systems,\u201d stating that <\/span>\u201cTaiwanese can never accept it unless it is over my dead body.\u201d It is often hard to ascertain what Han is really thinking\u2014his campaigning style and rhetoric are <\/span>reminiscent(6)<\/span> of Donald Trump in 2016.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tsai has been clamoring for a nuclear-free Taiwan by 2025. She is also pushing for 20% of Taiwan\u2019s energy to come from renewables that same year. The DPP has hired <\/span>\u00d8rsted<\/span><\/a> of Denmark to construct Taiwan\u2019s first offshore wind farm. By the looks of it, Tsai is pushing hard for a cleaner, greener Taiwan, which likely <\/span>resonates(7)<\/span> with the younger generation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Han\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Han is supportive of nuclear energy and wants to restart work on Taiwan\u2019s fourth nuclear power plant. He has criticized Tsai and her party for being too hasty in writing off the benefits of nuclear energy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Han made a claim that he wants 50% of Taiwan\u2019s energy to come from renewables by 2025, but there was no policy put forth, leading critics to believe it was<\/span> pie in the sky(8)<\/span> rhetoric to lure younger voters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tsai\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Tsai believes in more public housing, incentivizing entrepreneurship amongst youths, and creating government-mandated childcare support.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She has generally been on the side of employees, dictating a five-day, 40-hour workweek (with an option for overtime pay on a 6th day). However, her administration reduced the number of public holidays from 19 to 12, which angered a number of laborers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Han<\/b><\/p>\n Han wishes to subsidize Taiwanese employees who opt to put money into a pension fund\u2014claiming there isn\u2019t currently enough incentive to do so. He also wants to put more money into the labor insurance fund as well as giving parents longer partially-paid leave after having their second child.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tsai\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n One of President Tsai\u2019s biggest successes has been seeing same-sex marriage legalized in Taiwan. Same-sex couples have almost all the rights that <\/span>heterosexual(9)<\/span> couples have (but they can\u2019t adopt children unless they are genetically related). Taiwan is the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, so this is huge, especially for the younger population.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Han\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Han is far more conservative. He has vowed to overturn the same-sex marriage bill that was passed under Tsai\u2019s administration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Many people claim that China is trying to influence the election. Han Kuo-yu has been accused of taking money from Beijing\u2014which he firmly denies, stating that he will <\/span>drop out(10)<\/span> of the race if it is discovered he has accepted money from China.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pro-China investors have supposedly bought media outlets in Taiwan and have collaborated with Beijing in distributing <\/span>propaganda(11)<\/span>. China is believed to be making bots and fake accounts on social media outlets as well as the microblogging system Sina Weibo and the widely-used messaging app LINE.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The most conspicuous case occurred in Japan after Typhoon Jebi left some Taiwanese travelers stranded. The travelers boarded buses with mainland Chinese passengers and were possibly (nobody knows for sure) asked to state that they were Chinese before being allowed to board the bus. China proceeded to publish propaganda saying that Taiwanese diplomat <\/span>Su Chi-cheng didn\u2019t do enough to help the stranded Taiwanese travelers. He committed suicide shortly after reading the distressing comments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The riots in Hong Kong are still going on after many months of violence and unrest. Taiwan is rightly questioning whether or not this could happen to them if they were to become part of China. Having a pro-China candidate win the presidency in 2020 could come at a time when China is willing to take more action towards reclaiming Taiwan. If China gained a foothold(12), it could spark a war with the U.S. as well as unleashing a wave of instability in the region.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This is an opportunity for Taiwan to further social progress and green initiatives, making it a potential role model for neighboring nations, which are considerably more conservative in many ways. Equality, liberty, and eco-friendly policies are values that younger Taiwanese are likely to push for in future elections.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Lastly, this is a plight for independence from a nation that has embraced democracy and proven itself a loyal ally to other democratic nations. They\u2019ve made human rights and democratic principles a priority. This election marks a possible point of no return for Taiwan and will surely have consequences not just for the tiny island nation, but for the region, and possibly the whole world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 1. poignant\u00a0 (adj.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. <\/span>deeply affecting<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. Losing that World Series game was the most <\/span>poignant<\/b> moment of the starting pitcher\u2019s career.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 2. underprivileged (adj.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. <\/span>deprived through social or economic conditions of some of the fundamental rights of all members of a civilized society\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. Mexicans are often <\/span>underprivileged<\/b> in the USA and have trouble finding good jobs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 3. assets (n.) (pl.)<\/span><\/p>\n Def. the entire property of a person, association, corporation, or estate applicable or subject to the payment of debts\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. If you don\u2019t have any <\/span>assets<\/b>, your taxes will be easy to file.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 4. take sb.\/sth. by storm (phr.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. to quickly become very popular throughout (a place)<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. Lady Gaga <\/span>took the world by storm<\/b> when she released her hit song \u201cPoker Face.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n 5. scrutiny (n.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. a searching study, inquiry, or inspection<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. You will be under police <\/span>scrutiny<\/b> until they find the real killer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 6. reminiscent (adj.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. of the character of or relating to<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. \u201cStar Wars Episode VII\u201d was far too <\/span>reminiscent<\/b> of \u201cEpisode IV,\u201d so I thought it was a bit boring.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 7.\u00a0 resonate (v.)\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. to relate harmoniously: strike a chord<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. The new rule of \u201cno eating in the office\u201d won\u2019t <\/span>resonate<\/b> well with the employees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 8. pie in the sky (n.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. an unrealistic enterprise or prospect of prosperity<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. Our boss\u2019s dream about the company\u2019s success is just <\/span>pie in the sky<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 9. heterosexual (n.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward the opposite sex<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. A <\/span>heterosexual<\/b> man will date women.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 10. drop out (phr.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. to abandon an attempt, activity, or chosen path<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. Don\u2019t <\/span>drop out <\/b>of school. You have four weeks left!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 11. propaganda (n.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Def. the spreading of ideas, information, or <\/span>rumor<\/span>s for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. One of the reasons Hitler rose to power was because the Nazi party used <\/span>propaganda<\/b> successfully.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 12. foothold (n.)<\/span><\/p>\n Def. a position usable as a base for further advances<\/span><\/p>\n Ex. Our band needs to gain a <\/span>foothold<\/b> in this theater before we can move on to playing at bigger venues.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n https:\/\/tw.voicetube.com\/videos\/76752<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Taiwan 2016 presidential election\u00a0<\/a>by Studio Incendo\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n 05.20 \u7e3d\u7d71\u51fa\u5e2d\u300c2017\u548c\u4f60\u4e00\u8d77\u6c38\u548c\u5bd3\u6240\u7ae5\u6a02\u6703\u300d\uff0c\u6b61\u8fce\u5c0f\u670b\u53cb\u7684\u849e\u81e8 <\/a>by \u7e3d\u7d71\u5e9c<\/a><\/p>\n DSC_6281 <\/a>by SKY Liang<\/a><\/p>\n \u8b93\u751f\u547d\u4e0d\u518d\u901d\u53bb\u70ba\u5a5a\u59fb\u5e73\u6b0a\u7ad9\u51fa\u4f86 <\/a>by othree\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n crypto social media <\/a>by TLC Jonhson\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n untitled\u00a0 <\/a>by Ken Walton\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/factsanddetails.com\/southeast-asia\/Taiwan\/sub5_1c\/entry-3826.html<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nbr.org\/publication\/taiwans-2020-presidential-election-and-the-china-factor\/<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2018\/11\/22\/world\/asia\/taiwan-elections-meddling.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Taiwan’s presidential election is just a month away! Meet the candidates and their policies How this election could affect you <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":56067,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[1384,1399,1396],"tags":[1445,235,70],"yoast_head":"\nTaiwan\u2019s Political Parties and Candidates\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
Democratic Progressive Party (<\/b>DPP<\/b>) \u6c11\u4e3b\u9032\u6b65\u9ee8<\/b><\/h3>\n
Kuomintang of China (KMT) \u4e2d\u570b\u570b\u6c11\u9ee8<\/b><\/h3>\n
Tsai Ing-wen (DPP) \u8521\u82f1\u6587\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.voicetube.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/73c75fe1-tsai-ying-wen.png\")
<\/p>\nHan Kuo-yu (KMT) \u97d3\u570b\u745c\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.voicetube.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/cab5f7ef-han.png\")
<\/p>\nPolicies<\/h2>\n
Economy and International Relations<\/b><\/h3>\n
Energy\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Labor\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Equality\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.voicetube.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/979342ad-same-sex-marriage.png\")
<\/p>\nIs China Interfering in the Election?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.voicetube.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/1060a173-social-media.png\")
<\/p>\nWhy You Should Care\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.voicetube.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/81613b08-taiwan-flag.png\")
<\/p>\nVocabulary<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.voicetube.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/9fca80f7-lgbt-final.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPhotos<\/h3>\n
Sources<\/h3>\n