Taiwan’s China syndrome: elections test crucial relationship with China and the West
Power Play
POLITICO
4.2 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 14 December 2023
⏱️ 44 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In Taiwan, political parties are entering the final stint of a lively campaign as voters prepare to go to the polls in a presidential election on 13 January. With a population of 23 million, Taiwan is at the precarious juncture of the South and East China seas, buffeted by geo-strategic gusts as China maintains its claim on sovereignty.
In this special edition of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to Vincent Chao, a prominent figure from the incumbent pro-independence party, hoping to win an unprecedented third term, and Alexander Huang, from the principal opposition party, which seeks closer links with Beijing. And Anne speaks to the man who is about to head to Washington to become Taiwan’s top diplomat — Alexander Yui.
To reflect on the interview with the ambassador and look ahead to the final weeks of the election campaign, Anne is joined by Stuart Lau, co-author of POLITICO’s China Watcher newsletter.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Today's episode is presented by Nova Vax. |
| 0:02.8 | Nova Vax is a global leader in vaccine development and research. |
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| 0:10.4 | to help protect those who need them around the world. |
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| 0:18.0 | including research institutions, government agencies, foundations, and industry to help ensure access and increase uptake |
| 0:25.0 | of vaccines worldwide. |
| 0:26.7 | Learn more at W. W. Novavax.com. That high decibel count is the sound of a Taiwanese election rally in full throng. |
| 0:41.0 | I'm in Taipei the capital where rival parties are battling it out in |
| 0:47.4 | the final stint of the campaign as the country prepares to go to the polls for |
| 0:51.8 | the presidential election on the 13th of January and a lot is at stake |
| 0:57.0 | for the country of 23 million people at the precarious juncture of the South and East China seas. |
| 1:03.2 | It's a place buffeted by geostrategic gusts as China maintains its claim on sovereignty. |
| 1:10.5 | I'll be speaking to a prominent figure campaigning in the pro-independence party hoping to win |
| 1:16.6 | an unprecedented third term, as well as one of the main opposition parties which sees security in closer links with Beijing and |
| 1:25.2 | we'll hear from the man who's about to head to Washington DC as Taiwan's top |
| 1:30.1 | diplomat Alexander Yuie and he has this warning for the West. |
| 1:34.3 | The threats are there and we want to preserve our way of life. |
| 1:38.8 | We want to preserve our democracy, want to preserve our liberties and we will defend it if we are under threat and we are |
| 1:45.0 | under threat. |
| 1:46.0 | The whole world looks at it and say, well yes Taiwan, you know, you better do this and do that because |
| 1:51.3 | if you don't do anything, you will end up like Ukraine. |
... |
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