• 02/23/2025

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HKFP Lens: Taiwanese voters pack election rallies ahead of Saturday’s pivotal presidential vote

Hong Kong Free Press

taiwan lens piece

Taiwan’s voters packed colourful election rallies in the lead up to Saturday’s presidential and legislative elections. The vote is being closely watched owing to its potential implications for cross-Strait relations.

Kuomintang's Hou Yu-ih (centre) campaigns in the southern city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan on January 7, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Kuomintang’s Hou Yu-ih (centre) campaigns in the southern city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan on January 7, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Across the self-ruled island, voters waved Taiwanese flags and held up homemade posters proclaiming support for their favourite presidential candidate.

Tens of thousands of supporters of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te rally in Taipei, Taiwan on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Tens of thousands of supporters of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te rally in Taipei, Taiwan on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

“With William Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim, build a prosperous Taiwan,” one woman’s cardboard sign read at a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rally in Taipei. The names referred to the presidential and vice-presidential candidate of the incumbent liberal party.

Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Lai Ching-te at an election rally in Taipei, Taiwan on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Lai Ching-te at an election rally in Taipei, Taiwan on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

See also: Taiwan KMT election hopefuls say Hong Kong’s One Country, Two Systems ‘a failure,’ warn island on ‘brink of war’

An election campaign of Kuomintang's Hou Yu-ih in the southern city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan on January 7, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
An election campaign of Kuomintang’s Hou Yu-ih in the southern city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan on January 7, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Lai faces Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang, which favours warmer ties with Beijing, and Ko Wen-je, whose Taiwan People’s Party aims for a middle ground with Beijing.

Kuomintang's Hou Yu-ih (second from left) high-fives his supporters in Taipei, Taiwan on January 9, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Kuomintang’s Hou Yu-ih (second from left) high-fives his supporters in Taipei, Taiwan on January 9, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Saturday’s poll will affect 23 million Taiwanese, and is set to shape the geopolitical posture of an island sat between two superpowers China and the US.

An election campaign of Taiwan People's Party's Ko Wen-je in Taichung, Taiwan on January 6, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
An election campaign of Taiwan People’s Party’s Ko Wen-je in Taichung, Taiwan on January 6, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

See also: ‘We must choose a side in the US-China rivalry’: Taiwanese voters concerned over island’s fate ahead of election

Tens of thousands of supporters of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te rally in Taipei, Taiwan on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Tens of thousands of supporters of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te rally in Taipei, Taiwan on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Taiwan People's Party's Ko Wen-je (centre) campaigns in Taichung, Taiwan on January 6, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Taiwan People’s Party’s Ko Wen-je (centre) campaigns in Taichung, Taiwan on January 6, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
An election campaign of Taiwan People's Party's Ko Wen-je in Taichung, Taiwan on January 6, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
An election campaign of Taiwan People’s Party’s Ko Wen-je in Taichung, Taiwan on January 6, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
An election campaign of Kuomintang's Hou Yu-ih in the southern city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan on January 7, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
An election campaign of Kuomintang’s Hou Yu-ih in the southern city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan on January 7, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Taiwan People's Party's Ko Wen-je (centre) campaigns in Taichung, Taiwan on January 6, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Taiwan People’s Party’s Ko Wen-je (centre) campaigns in Taichung, Taiwan on January 6, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Hundreds of Taiwan presidential election candidate Ko Wen-je and his running mate Cynthia Wu show up at a campaign rally on Bo'ai Road near Beimen on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP.
Hundreds of supporters of Taiwan presidential election candidate Ko Wen-je and his running mate Cynthia Wu show up at a campaign rally on Bo’ai Road near Beimen on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP.
A supporter for Taiwan People's Party shows up at a campaign rally in Taipei on January 12, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
A supporter for Taiwan People’s Party at a campaign rally in Taipei on January 12, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Tens of thousands of supporters of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te rally in Taipei, Taiwan on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Tens of thousands of supporters of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te rally in Taipei, Taiwan on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Kuomintang's supporters show up at a campaign rally in Taipei, Taiwan on January 9, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Kuomintang’s supporters show up at a campaign rally in Taipei, Taiwan on January 9, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Hundreds of Taiwan presidential election candidate Ko Wen-je and his running mate Cynthia Wu show up at a campaign rally on Bo'ai Road near Beimen on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP.
Hundreds of supporters of Taiwan presidential election candidate Ko Wen-je and his running mate Cynthia Wu show up at a campaign rally on Bo’ai Road near Beimen on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP.
An election campaign of Kuomintang's Hou Yu-ih in the southern city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan on January 7, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
An election campaign of Kuomintang’s Hou Yu-ih in the southern city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan on January 7, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Supporters of Ko Wen-je and Cynthia Wu leave signatures on inflatable dolls of the candidates at a campaign rally on Bo'ai Road near Beimen on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP.
Supporters of Taiwan presidential election candidate Ko Wen-je and his running mate Cynthia Wu leave signatures on inflatable dolls of the candidates at a campaign rally on Bo’ai Road near Beimen on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP.
Tens of thousands of supporters of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te rally in Taipei, Taiwan on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Tens of thousands of supporters of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te rally in Taipei, Taiwan on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
An election campaign of Taiwan People's Party's Ko Wen-je in Taichung, Taiwan on January 6, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
An election campaign of Taiwan People’s Party’s Ko Wen-je in Taichung, Taiwan on January 6, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
An election campaign of Democratic Progressive Party's William Lai Ching-te in the southern city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan on January 7, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
A campaign rally for Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate William Lai Ching-te in the southern city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on January 7, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Taiwan People's Party candidate Ko Wen-je rallies for support in Taipei on January 12, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
Taiwan People’s Party candidate Ko Wen-je rallies for support in Taipei on January 12, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
An election campaign of Kuomintang's Hou Yu-ih in the southern city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan on January 7, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
An election campaign of Kuomintang’s Hou Yu-ih in the southern city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan on January 7, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
A supporter of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te rallies in Taipei, Taiwan on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
A supporter of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te rallies in Taipei, Taiwan on January 11, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
An election campaign of Taiwan People's Party's Ko Wen-je in Taichung, Taiwan on January 6, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.
An election campaign of Taiwan People’s Party’s Ko Wen-je in Taichung, Taiwan on January 6, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

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https://hongkongfp.com/2024/01/12/hkfp-lens-taiwans-voters-pack-election-rallies-in-final-push-ahead-of-pivotal-presidential-vote/