Taiwan's elections gaining heat as presidential candidates register

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Taiwan’s vice president and its ambassador to the US have registered Tuesday to run in the 2024 presidential elections.

Vice President Lai Ching-te and Ambassador Bi-khim Hsiao are the first to register for election in January.

Lai is the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) presidential candidate and has almost consistently led opinion polls.

Hsiao declared her candidacy for the vice presidency Monday following her resignation from the post of Taiwan’s representative to the US.

“Your wealth of experience and unwavering commitment will propel us toward a better tomorrow! We will continue our pursuit of prosperity and stability, and we are determined to lead with purpose,” Lai told Hsiao on X.

Taiwan’s two key opposition parties, the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), agreed last week to have a coalition of presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the elections.

After months of deadlock and public tolls, the parties agreed to determine joint candidates for the two posts.