TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Yao Li-ming, campaign manager for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, speculated on Monday (Dec. 4) that Ko Wen-je's claim of being offered US＄200 million to run for the vice-presidential bid is the clearest instance of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) meddling in Taiwan's elections.
During a press conference titled "The Unclarified US＄200 Million Doubt: Is Ko Wen-je Lying to Voters or Is It Chinese Intervention?", Yao Li-ming, and Lai's spokesperson Tai Wei-shan firmly stated that such an overt criminal act could not simply be ignored. Yao characterized Ko as both a witness and a victim of Chinese interference.
Yao reasserted that only the CCP has the motive, capability, and suspicion to offer Ko such a large sum, suggesting that the CCP hopes to support a Blue-White alliance as part of their motivation.
Tai raised suspicions about Ko's silence on the issue after linking the offer to the Kuomintang (KMT), insinuating he might be under pressure from either the CCP or the KMT. She called on KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih to clarify the KMT's role in this so-called "US＄200 million incidents."
In addition, Tai criticized Hou’s proposal to reopen Taiwan to Chinese tourists and allow Chinese students to work in Taiwan. She suggested that these policies would increase Taiwan's reliance on China.
Tai also mentioned recent investigations into the China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) inviting Taiwanese village chiefs on free trips to China as an example of election interference.
Tai rebuked the KMT's eagerness to once again make Taiwan dependent on China, claiming that such a practice would hinder the country's progress in connecting with the world and the international community.