TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was the first to officially register his candidacy with the Central Election Commission in Taipei yesterday, shortly after naming TPP Legislator Cynthia Wu (吳欣盈) as his running mate. Supporters of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) gather outside KMT headquarters in Taipei yesterday, as party officials decide on a vice presidential candidate. New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi, left, sits next to Broadcasting Corp of China chairman Jaw Shaw-kong at the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) headquarters in Taipei yesterday, after the party announced Jaw would be Hou’s running mate. Chu called for solidarity within the KMT, and urged the members to work toward the common goal of getting Hou elected. Shortages of labor, land, talent, electricity and water have caused many to become disillusioned and stop pursuing their dreams, he said.

Broadcasting Corp of China chairman Jaw Shaw-kong, the Chinese Nationalist Party’s candidate for vice president, arrives at the party’s headquarters in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNAJaw has declared his opposition to arms procurements and advocates following the “one China” principle, Chen said. New Power Party spokeswoman Yu Chia-chien (余佳蒨) said that TPP Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) “clearly” chose TPP Legislator Cynthia Wu (吳欣盈) as his running mate to secure financial support for his campaign. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je, center left, and Legislator Cynthia Wu, his running mate, wave at the Central Election Commission in Taipei yesterday. However, the TPP would continue to discuss cooperation with the KMT throughout the campaign and after the election, he said.

TPP legislator-at-large list is topped by Vivian HuangStaff writer, with CNAThe Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) on Wednesday released its legislator-at-large nominees for the Jan. 13 elections, with former Taipei deputy mayor Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) topping the 34-person list for the elections on Jan. 13. Under Taiwan’s electoral system, the number of legislator-at-large seats is prorated according to the number of party votes each party receives, with a threshold of 5 percent of all party votes cast. Former Taipei deputy mayor Vivian Huang speaks to reporters at a news conference in New Taipei City on Wednesday. 2 pick, Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), a former New Power Party (NPP) legislator, for his work uncovering corruption while serving as a lawmaker. Huang Kuo-chang last week resigned from the NPP, which he cofounded in 2015 and chaired from its inception to March 2019.

Opposition candidates’ live meeting fruitlessBy Kayleigh Madjar / Staff writer, with CNAOpposition politicians failed to agree on a united approach to the January elections during a chaotic meeting that was broadcast live yesterday, ahead of the 5pm deadline for registration today. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co founder and independent presidential candidate Terry Gou, and his running mate Tammy Lai, near top right, walk among members of the media as they arrive for a meeting at Grand Hyatt Taipei yesterday. The combative tone was set early, with spokesmen for Gou and the KMT trading barbs before the final two participants arrived. A clock counts down to the candidate registration deadline during a meeting between opposition politicians at the Grand Hyatt Taipei yesterday. Photo: ReutersThe meeting ended at the 6:30pm deadline with the KMT members leaving after Gou’s spokesman suggested that the party tried to manipulate polls from earlier in the year.

Former Taipei deputy mayor Vivian Huang, the campaign office manager for Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je, speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. The KMT proposed an analysis of nine polls, but later agreed to take out three that favored a Hou-led pairing after the TPP rejected polls conducted solely over landlines. It would be problematic if a joint ticket helps Vice President William Lai (賴清德), the Democratic Progressive Party’s presidential candidate, win, she said. Huang went to the Central Election Commission office in Taipei at 4pm to pick up presidential candidate registration forms on behalf of Ko. Hou yesterday urged Ko to “think things over,” adding that there were still 48 hours for the former Taipei mayor to change his mind about a joint ticket.

EDITORIAL: KMT, Ko not taking voters seriouslyThe “blue-white” alliance farce continues. Do the KMT and Ko think this is some kind of reality TV show, where voters are kept at the edge of their seats until the final reveal? The KMT leadership and Ko are letting these voters down by allowing themselves to be embroiled in this farce. Having come to an agreement with Hou, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) and former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Wednesday last week, Ko subsequently reneged on its terms, saying he had been tricked by the KMT members. A considerable proportion of the electorate would like to see somebody else in the Presidential Office, but Hou, Ko, Chu and Ma are clearly not taking voters seriously.

Ko vows to ‘fight to end’ for his partyCUTTING IT CLOSE: The KMT’s Eric Chu said an alliance with Ko Wen-je might be finalized on Wednesday, 2 days before the deadline for presidential candidates to registerBy Shih Hsiao-kuang and Huang Ching-hsuan / Staff reportersTaiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candiate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday said that he would fight to the end as his party’s presidential candidate, after the TPP and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) failed to agree on a joint presidential ticket the day before. Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je, center, stands on a stage as supporters cheer and wave TPP flags at a campaign event in New Taipei City yesterday. “To end the suffering of the people, I will extend the utmost goodwill, uniting all possible forces” to form a joint ticket, he said. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi, center, speaks at a campaign event in Chiayi County yesterday Photo: Lin Yi-chang, Taipei Times“However, I will continue to fight to the end in my capacity as the TPP’s presidential candidate,” Ko said. The KMT and TPP had agreed to announce who would lead their joint presidential ticket on Saturday.

Djokovic eyeing record after demolishing AlcarazAFP, TURIN, ItalyNovak Djokovic on Saturday closed in on a record-breaking seventh ATP Finals title after sweeping past Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 6-2 in a dominating semi-final display he hailed as his best of the tournament. “The best match of the tournament for me, without a doubt. It came at right time really, after spending a lot of hours on the court in the first three matches,” Djokovic said. I approached the match with the right attitude, the right mentality.”Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz during their ATP Finals men’s singles match at the Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy, on Saturday. However, Saturday’s match did not live up to the previous four dramatic clashes, as Djokovic put on a show of force that put pretender Alcaraz firmly in his place.

EDITORIAL: TPP and KMT prove poor partnersThe formation of a “blue-white” alliance between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) for next year’s elections had been delayed for months. A closed-door meeting attended by Ko, Hou, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) and former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who was acting as a witness, was held on Wednesday. The TPP and Ko immediately faced criticism from supporters asking why Ko had conceded to “unfair” terms. Ko even said he would attend further negotiations with a team of party members, as he is “easily duped” when alone. The TPP and KMT only have an understanding on “removing the Democratic Progressive Party from power,” but seem to have their own interpretations as to what that means.

Five of six polls would favor Hou: KMTBy Shih Hsiao-kuang and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday denied that the KMT has demanded that the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) make concessions of any kind regarding the presidential candidate opinion polls. The point of contention between the parties is how many of the nine polls are considered valid and what margins of error are to be set for these polls, Chu told a press conference at 11am. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. The KMT was of the opinion that all nine polls should be considered valid, Chu said, adding that a poll’s margin of error depends on its collected samples. Ko himself had said that if the polls were within the margin of error, he would willingly accept running as the vice presidential candidate, Chu added.

KMT-TPP alliance falters over pollingCOLLABORATION STILL POSSIBLE: Ko and Eric Chu said that they would continue to negotiate, but did not indicate they would back down on their polling positionsAgenciesThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) yesterday failed to agree on a joint candidate for president, once again throwing into doubt their ability to unseat the ruling party in January’s election. The parties were expected to announce an agreed-upon candidate yesterday at 10am, but instead announced that they needed further consultations after a disagreement over how to use polling data to make the selection. As of yesterday, the parties were still unable to agree on how to interpret the polling data and whether landline-only polls should be used. Chu told a separate news conference that cooperation remained the aim, but did not indicate he would back down on the polls issue. A fourth candidate, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) founder Terry Gou (郭台銘), has thrown his hat in the ring as well.

AIT says it will not take sides in electionsBy Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNAThe American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) yesterday said that the US would not take sides in Taiwan’s elections in January after Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) claimed to have received a call from the AIT asking whether the party had noticed any Chinese interference. At an event on Wednesday, Ko said that he had received a telephone call from the AIT inquiring whether there was “Chinese influence” in the political alliance between the TPP and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). The AIT said in a statement that the US has complete confidence in Taiwan’s democracy and believes that Taiwanese should decide who would be their next head of state. Ko yesterday said that it was “normal” for the AIT to be concerned about talk over a TPP-KMT alliance. The TPP has kept in contact with the AIT at all levels since February, Ko said, adding that he had also promised AIT Director Sandra Oudkirk that there would be “no surprise” regarding Taiwan-US ties.

Type of polls used might cause blue-white discordStaff writer, with CNAThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) would likely clash over poll selection as they attempt to negotiate a joint presidential ticket in the coming days, an expert said on Wednesday. However, if the difference falls within the margin of error, Hou would receive the point, the parties said. Which polls should be included in the analysis appears unclear in the joint statement, Hsiao said. Hsiao said that fairness, objectivity and representativeness, as well as sampling and questionnaire design were more significant than sampling errors. Meanwhile, Gallup analyst Wu Li-yen (吳立嫣) also highlighted the importance of questionnaire design to ensure consistency across polls.

Investors see risks ebbing with opposition allianceBloombergInvestors might take heart from the latest twist in the presidential race, as a tie-up of opposition candidates raises the odds of a more China-friendly government taking post next year. Geopolitical risks have been an overhang over Taiwanese equities for years, with investors fretting over the possibility of a military conflict between Taipei and Beijing. A man stands in front of a screen at the Taiwan Stock Exchange in Taipei on Dec. 30 last year. The outcome would define Taipei’s relations with Beijing in the years to come, while also setting the tone for US-China tensions. Sectors most exposed to cross-strait trade, including semiconductor companies, agriculture producers and tourism-related firms stand to benefit, he added.

This is an obvious ploy to help the “divide and conquer” strategy that the “blue-white alliance” is working on to incite “down with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)” sentiment. According to Internet searches since July, the idea was first thrown into the public arena by the KMT and the TPP. On Sept. 12, CNEWS published an online survey that asked: As the DPP has been in power for eight years, do you think there should be a change in next year’s election? Of the respondents, 65.1 percent supported a change, with 39.7 percent “strongly agreeing” and 25.4 percent “somewhat agreeing.”However, the survey’s accuracy is questionable. They should prevent the TPP and the KMT, which are singing to China’s tune, from furthering their ill-intentioned agenda.