Veteran Taiwan politician James Soong to seek presidency in blow to Beijing’s hopes for unified challenge to Tsai Ing-wen
- Decision by People’s First Party chairman risks splitting the mainland-friendly vote and may help current leader’s chances of staying in power
- Beijing is believed to favour Kuomintang candidate Han Kuo-yu as best hope of removing thorn in its side
Veteran Taiwanese politician James Soong Chu-yu announced on Wednesday that he would make a fourth attempt to seek the presidency in a blow to Beijing’s hopes for a unified mainland-friendly challenge to President Tsai Ing-wen.
The 77-year-old chairman of the People’s First Party remains an influential figure in the opposition “pan-blue” camp, and his decision to stand is another headache for the Kuomintang candidate Han Kuo-yu, who is believed by many analysts to be Beijing’s preferred candidate.
Soong said this would be his final attempt to win the presidency but told a press conference in Taipei he felt “easy and comfortable” about his decision.
“Everybody knows that there is still a long way to go for me to be elected,” he said, “but in choosing to run the last mile of my political career, I don’t feel at a loss or dejected.”
He will campaign on a platform of bridging the political divide between the independence-leaning green camp and mainland-friendly blue camp, cross-strait peace and improving the economy.
