Reuters-Taiwan election about choosing whether to embrace China frontrunner says
November 21, 2023 3 min 528 words
这篇报道突显了台湾明年总统选举的紧迫性，主要议题聚焦在如何处理与中国的关系。蔡英文副总统兼执政的民进党总统候选人赖清德指出，台湾人民在选举中必须选择继续走向民主之路，还是走向与中国的拥抱。这个选择不仅关系到台湾的未来，也受到北京加强对台军事压力的影响。赖清德强调台湾的安全是国际问题，整个世界都在关注这场选举。报道还提到，中国对赖清德及其搭档萧美琴的反感，以及中国宣称“台独就是战争”的强硬立场。这次选举将决定台湾继续民主进程，还是走向中国的道路。报道传递了紧张氛围和两种截然不同的未来可能性，凸显了台湾在地缘政治中的敏感性。
Taiwan's people have to make a choice at next year's election about whether the island keeps moving forward on the road to democracy or "walks into the embrace of China", the frontrunner to be the next president said on Tuesday.
The issue of China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, looms large ahead of the Jan. 13 presidential and parliamentary elections, especially as Beijing has been stepping up its military pressure against the island.
Lai Ching-te, vice president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, has led in most opinion polls ahead of the election. The DPP champions Taiwan's separate identity from China
The largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), which traditionally favours close ties with Beijing, is locked in a dispute with the smaller Taiwan People's Party about which of their candidates should run as president and which as vice president after initially agreeing to work together.
Speaking to reporters and supporters after formally registering his candidacy with the election commission, Lai said Taiwan's security was an international issue and the whole world was watching this election.
"The people of Taiwan have to choose between trusting Taiwan, allowing Taiwan to continue to move forward on the road of democracy, and relying on China, following the old path of the one-China principle, and walking into the embrace of China," he said.
Beijing has demanded Taipei accepts both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to "one China", which the DPP-led government has rejected saying only the island's people can decide their future.
Lai on Monday announced Taiwan's high profile former de facto ambassador the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, as his running mate.
Like Lai, Hsiao is despised by China, which has twice placed sanctions on her, most recently in April, saying she was an "independence diehard".
Late on Monday, Chinese state television lambasted the Lai-Hsiao team up in a commentary on its website, saying they were "villains colluding together".
"Taiwan independence means war. The Lai-Hsiao independence double act will intensify cross-strait tensions and conflict," it said.
Lai on Monday dismissed China's criticisms, saying it was further proof of Beijing's efforts to interfere in the election.
Lai, standing next to Hsiao outside the election commission, said he was full of confidence.
"We both deeply love this land, passionately love this country," he added.
Both wore matching badges on their lapels showing a cartoon dog and cat, Lai being a dog lover and Hsiao a cat lover.
The election registration deadline is Friday. It remains unclear when the opposition will register their candidates.