The presidential candidate from Taiwan’s China-friendly Kuomintang party wants to use deterrence to prevent a possible military attack by Beijing. Defense equipment must be further improved to prevent China from starting a war, said Hou Yu-ih in Taipei. “If China starts a war, it will not be able to pay the price,” said the 66-year-old.
The growing military tensions in the strait between Taiwan and China are one of the biggest challenges for the island with more than 23 million inhabitants. The Communist Party in Beijing counts Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic of China and has repeatedly threatened to use military force if peaceful reunification does not come about. China has fighter jets flying into Taiwan’s air defense zone almost every day.
Elections on Saturday
In his own words, Hou relies on deterrence, dialogue and de-escalation. If he wins the election, the former police officer wants to slowly revive exchanges with China, initially through tourism, education and culture. “However, there will be no immediate jump to official-level talks,” he said. At the same time, Hou wants to continue buying defense equipment from the US ally. Beijing has repeatedly demanded that Washington stop arming Taiwan.
Around 19.5 million Taiwanese citizens at home and abroad are called on Saturday to elect a new president and a new parliament. Hou accused the still ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which supports Taiwan’s independence, of having increased tensions with China through its policies. When the DPP won the 2016 elections with President Tsai Ing-wen, Beijing broke off contact with the Taiwanese government.
