Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang, has nominated Mayor Hou Yu-ih as its presidential candidate for the upcoming election. With a blank slate on the thorny question of China, Hou is seen as a capable administrator with broad appeal. His candidacy sets the stage for a tight race that could chart a new course for Taiwan in the big-power standoff between China and the United States. Supporters of Hou say he takes real actions to improve the lives of residents, such as transforming a giant, decades-old garbage dump into green park space. His lack of clarity on major geopolitical questions such as Taiwan’s relationship with China and the US could be a disadvantage, but could also make him more appealing to centrist voters. The Kuomintang must now convince the Taiwanese people that they will not betray Taiwan or allow China to completely swallow up Taiwan’s sovereignty.
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