TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan People's Party (TPP) candidates shared on Friday (Jan.12) their strategy to enhance Taiwan's security with international media.
TPP presidential candidate Ko Wen-je and vice-presidential candidate Cynthia Wu proposed to join regional trade agreements, increase Taiwan's military budget to up to 3 percent of GDP, and move beyond Taiwan's traditional blue-green political divide with the goal of launching the 3rd wave of democratization in Taiwan.
Aiming to build a coalition government if elected, Ko, in response to an inquiry on which political party the TPP would hold coalition within the parliamentary, said, "it is very clear that it will cooperate with different political parties on different issues."
He added: "As long as there are reasonable arguments, we will cooperate with the party. We don't put much emphasis on the differences between political parties but mainly focus on cooperation on issues.”
The TPP candidates also stressed the importance of changing Taiwan's political landscape and addressing the deterioration of cross-strait relations.
"The security of Taiwan is not to be entrusted to the personal will of Xi Jinping, so you have to be able to protect yourself. If China hadn't taken the attitude of armed reunification every day, why would we keep leaning towards the US?" Ko commented.
"We will maintain a strong relationship with Taiwan and the United States," Ko noted, "On that basis, we're willing to start communicating with China."
Ko emphasized: "Taiwan will never be Hong Kong, and we will make it very clear to China. If by 'one country, two systems' you mean the Hong Kong model, then I can tell you right now that there is no market for it in Taiwan, and the people of Taiwan will not accept it."
In light of a global economic slowdown that has hit Taiwan's economy hard, the candidates' focus is on boosting the economy and addressing critical domestic issues. These challenges include tackling low wages, resolving the housing crisis, and addressing labor shortages.