HSINCHU (TVBS News) — President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan People's Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je, and Kuomintang (KMT) presidential hopeful Hou Yu-ih attended the Hsinchu Hakka Yimin Festival on Monday (Sept. 4).
Arriving shortly after Ko, President Tsai briefly greeted the TPP contender without further interactions, while Hou arrived after they both left. Their presence at the ceremony was interpreted as an effort to appeal to Hakka voters as the 2024 presidential election draws near.
During her remarks, President Tsai called for unity among all attendees, stating, "Regardless of what brought you here, as we gather today, there should not be you and me or different ethnic groups."
President Tsai highlighted the historical significance of the Hakka Yimin Festival and stressed the importance of upholding the spirit of the Yimin martyrs, saying, "We should protect our home and safeguard our dignity as Taiwanese people."
In related news, Ko initially planned to attend briefly but ended up staying until after President Tsai delivered her speech.
Hou, warmly welcomed by Hsinchu County magistrate and fellow KMT member Yang Wen-ke, pledged to "unite the strength of all Taiwanese people to make Taiwan better, no matter who we are and where we are from."
He emphasized that "our next generations, including Hakka people and all ethnic groups, can live in enduring prosperity and stability."
The Yimin Festival, a major Hakka event, is an annual ceremony honoring a group of Hakkas who sacrificed themselves to defend their homeland in the 1780s.