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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Elections & Politics

Beijing Hopes for Jaw Shaw-kong's 2028 Presidential Run? Writer Says 'Two Steps' Could Settle 'Three Suns'

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Context piece
  • A Taiwanese writer suggests a two-step strategy for KMT Chairwoman Jaw Shaw-kong to potentially run for president in 2028.
  • The strategy involves preventing popular figures like Lu Shiow-yen, Chiang Wan-an, and Han Kuo-yu from participating in primaries and offering them official positions.
  • The writer acknowledges this plan is theoretical and faces significant political obstacles, citing past instances where Jaw Shaw-kong's influence was limited within the party.

Taiwanese writer Jaw Shaw-kong's potential presidential bid in 2028 is the subject of speculation, with one writer proposing a strategic approach for her to secure the nomination. The writer, Zhao Xiaohui, suggests that if Beijing desires Jaw Shaw-kong to represent the Kuomintang (KMT) in the 2028 presidential election, a two-step plan could be implemented.

The first step, according to Zhao, involves preventing more popular KMT figures, Lu Shiow-yen, Chiang Wan-an, and Han Kuo-yu, from entering the primary election through either a national poll or party member vote. Zhao posits that Jaw Shaw-kong, as the current party chair, could leverage her position to call a national congress and advocate for direct nomination, creating a narrative that she is the only viable candidate. The second step involves strategically assigning official roles or "titles" to the other prominent figures to appease them.

This is just armchair strategizing. In political reality, the obstacles Jaw Shaw-kong faces in realizing her presidential dream are not small.

— Zhao XiaohuiThe writer acknowledges the theoretical nature of her proposed strategy for KMT Chairwoman Jaw Shaw-kong's presidential ambitions.

Zhao suggests Han Kuo-yu could continue as Legislative Yuan president, while Lu Shiow-yen might be offered the position of premier or a "Jaw-Lu ticket," with a promise to prioritize central Taiwan's development. Chiang Wan-an, described as mild-mannered, is expected to complete his term as Taipei mayor. However, Zhao emphasizes that this strategy is purely theoretical and faces considerable resistance. She points to past events, such as the arms procurement bill, where Jaw Shaw-kong's preferred version was overridden by local KMT leaders, demonstrating her limited influence within the party, a situation Zhao refers to as "orders not leaving Bade Road."

The KMT's local leaders, who are facing the 2026 elections, clearly understand that if they truly followed Beijing's wishes and only allocated 380 billion [NT dollars], it would provide the DPP with a reason to attack the KMT.

— Zhao XiaohuiThe writer explains why local KMT leaders resisted a Beijing-favored arms procurement budget, highlighting their focus on electoral survival.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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