TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih criticized the opposing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for their numerous shortcomings, particularly in the mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic in a live presidential debate held by TVBS and other media outlets on Saturday (Dec. 30).
Hou singled out DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, accusing him of neglect during the peak of the outbreak.
The KMT candidate also claimed that during the pandemic, despite Lai continuously emphasizing himself to be a Wanli resident in New Taipei City, he did not actually care about the public but instead, focused on issues surrounding his family home's illegal expansion claim.
During his tenure as New Taipei City Mayor, Hou further stated that any pandemic-related advice proposed to the central government was denied.
He also lambasted the DPP government for serious shortages of anti-epidemic supplies amidst the pandemic. Examples given included the shortage of protective clothing and rapid test kits, as well as failing to properly resolve food safety issues.
As such, Hou emphasized the need to establish a special investigation team to probe what he termed as malpractices in the DPP's pandemic approach.
Hou also questioned Lai's advocacy for Taiwanese independence, positing that a lack of communication dialog across the Strait might escalate cross-strait tensions.
The KMT candidate blasted Lai's tactics as underestimating the intelligence of the Taiwanese people and disrespectful to the Republic of China (Taiwan).
In Hou's words, Lai is not sparking trust in Taiwan but rather hurting it, characterizing him as ungrateful.