ltlee1
2024-01-09 20:51:08 UTC
"Although Taiwan is a mature democracy, there are still things to watch in the final days before the election.
1. Will there be another “Mayday” incident to influence voters? Some voters doubt the accuracy of the allegations that the mainland attempted to force rock band Mayday to make a statement that they support Taiwan’s unification with China. Days after this incident made the news, we only know that anonymous Taiwan officials made this claim to foreign media, and, China has denied it. The Taiwan government should either produce the evidence that China tried to blackmail Mayday, or, if the entire incident is fake news meant to interfere in the election, the persons behind it and the foreign media that published the story should apologize.
The Mayday incident reminds many of the Wang Liqiang incident in the weeks prior to the 2020 election. Four years later, Wang’s allegations that he was paid to interfere in Taiwan’s election have yet to be proven, and Wang’s alleged “spy boss” Xiang Xin was not convicted of any crimes in Taiwan despite Taiwan authorities desperate efforts over four years.
It is unfortunate that some people think it is OK to make false allegations of China’s interference in order to win votes. Hopefully, this kind of incident will not occur again in the final week before the election.
...
3. Will the United States government intervene? In an interview published on January 5, 2024, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said the US hopes for free, fair and transparent elections in Taiwan.
Although this author believes the United States has made it abundantly clear throughout the election campaign that the U.S. prefers William Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party is elected president, hopefully in the final days before the election no US government officials makes additional statements about the Taiwan election that might be election interference.
4. Will United States scholars or former government officials intervene? At least one U.S. scholar, Bonnie Glaser, has already played a controversial role in the election campaign. Will a prominent American arrive in Taiwan this week to influence voters? Will scholars in the U.S. say things that indicate support for William Lai? ..."
https://www.chinatimes.com/opinion/20240106002820-262104?chdtv
1. Will there be another “Mayday” incident to influence voters? Some voters doubt the accuracy of the allegations that the mainland attempted to force rock band Mayday to make a statement that they support Taiwan’s unification with China. Days after this incident made the news, we only know that anonymous Taiwan officials made this claim to foreign media, and, China has denied it. The Taiwan government should either produce the evidence that China tried to blackmail Mayday, or, if the entire incident is fake news meant to interfere in the election, the persons behind it and the foreign media that published the story should apologize.
The Mayday incident reminds many of the Wang Liqiang incident in the weeks prior to the 2020 election. Four years later, Wang’s allegations that he was paid to interfere in Taiwan’s election have yet to be proven, and Wang’s alleged “spy boss” Xiang Xin was not convicted of any crimes in Taiwan despite Taiwan authorities desperate efforts over four years.
It is unfortunate that some people think it is OK to make false allegations of China’s interference in order to win votes. Hopefully, this kind of incident will not occur again in the final week before the election.
...
3. Will the United States government intervene? In an interview published on January 5, 2024, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said the US hopes for free, fair and transparent elections in Taiwan.
Although this author believes the United States has made it abundantly clear throughout the election campaign that the U.S. prefers William Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party is elected president, hopefully in the final days before the election no US government officials makes additional statements about the Taiwan election that might be election interference.
4. Will United States scholars or former government officials intervene? At least one U.S. scholar, Bonnie Glaser, has already played a controversial role in the election campaign. Will a prominent American arrive in Taiwan this week to influence voters? Will scholars in the U.S. say things that indicate support for William Lai? ..."
https://www.chinatimes.com/opinion/20240106002820-262104?chdtv