Democratic Taiwan is two days from a pivotal election that is being watched from Beijing to Washington, as the next president would determine the island's future relations with an increasingly assertive Beijing in a flashpoint region.
Hou's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party has long encouraged closer ties and cooperation with Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has positioned its frontrunner candidate Lai Ching-te as a defender of Taiwan's democracy, and criticised KMT as being too close with China.
Speaking to foreign media on Thursday, Hou rejected the DPP's allegation of him being "pro-China and a sell-out of Taiwan".
"Taiwan is a democratic and free country," he said, stressing that he did not have "unrealistic ideas" about China's intentions.
"No matter what China thinks... what the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan wants us to do is to maintain the status quo," Hou said, adding that the issue of "reunification" will not be on the table if he is elected.
Chinese President Xi Jinping had said in a recent address that unifying Taiwan with China is an "inevitability".
Beijing has in recent years stepped up military pressures on the island, sending in warplanes and naval vessels around Taiwan's surroundings.
During her two terms in power, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has boosted defence spending, and buying more weapons from top ally United States.
Hou said if elected, he will "not only increase our purchases... but also strengthen Taiwan-US military cooperation".
"We will maintain good communications with the United States. We are happy to see the United States playing a positive role in maintaining stability in Taiwan Strait," he said.
"No matter what happens here, the United States will forever remain a staunch ally of ours."
The United States said Wednesday it plans to send an unofficial delegation to Taiwan after the election -- a move sure to spike tensions with China, but that Hou and his running mate Jaw Shaw-kong said Thursday they "welcome".
Beijing on Thursday warned voters that an election win by presidential frontrunner Lai -- who has previously called himself a "pragmatic worker for Taiwan's independence -- would pose a "severe danger" to cross-strait ties.
"If he comes to power, he will further push for 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities (and create) turbulence in the Taiwan Strait," said China's Taiwan Affairs Office in a statement.
Three-way race: Taiwan's presidential candidates
Taipei (AFP) Jan 11, 2024 -
Three candidates are vying to become Taiwan's next president in a critical vote closely watched by neighbouring China and the rest of the world.
China relations, economic policy and youth incentives are some of the key issues in the contest to succeed President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after her eight years in power.
Here are the candidates:
- Lai Ching-te -
Lai, 64, of the DPP is the frontrunner in the race. He became vice president four years ago as Tsai's running mate in her landslide re-election.
The son of a miner, Harvard-educated Lai served as a lawmaker, the mayor of southwestern city Tainan and premier since switching to politics from a medical profession nearly 30 years ago.
He has been more outspoken than Tsai about Taiwan's independence -- a red line for China, which claims the island as part of its territory -- previously describing himself as a "pragmatic Taiwan independence worker".
Beijing has slammed Lai and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim, Taipei's former de facto ambassador to Washington, as a "dangerous independence duo".
After Lai returned from a visit to Paraguay with two US stopovers in August, China staged huge war games around Taiwan.
He has called the election a choice between "democracy and autocracy", and pledged his "unwavering" support to maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.
"Peace is priceless and there is no winner in a war," he said at a televised policy presentation by presidential candidates.
"I am willing to open the door to exchanges and cooperation with China on the preconditions of parity and dignity."
He has also vowed to raise salaries, cut taxes and provide more social housing in a bid to woo younger voters, who have grown disillusioned by the DPP during its eight-year grip on power.
- Hou Yu-ih -
Former police chief and New Taipei city mayor Hou is the candidate for the Beijing-friendly main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party.
The 66-year-old entered politics in 2010 when he was appointed deputy mayor of New Taipei, Taiwan's largest constituency with around four million residents -- a position he held for over seven years.
He defeated a DPP bigwig in 2018 local elections to run the city, and was re-elected last year.
Hou has described the election as a choice "between war and peace," and said his three-decades-long career in law enforcement would enable him to "protect Taiwan".
"I can maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait and I will do my best to avoid war so that everyone can live a peaceful life," he said at a recent campaign rally.
Hou has criticised the DPP for what he calls "the worst economy in 14 years" and vowed to negotiate with China "as soon as possible" on issues related to a sweeping cross-strait trade pact if elected.
- Ko Wen-je -
Ko, 64, founded the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) in 2019 as an alternative to the island's two dominant political camps.
The former surgeon was a novice to politics when he ran for Taipei mayor and won in 2014, the first time an independent was elected to lead the capital city.
Known by his nickname "Ko P" -- a reference to his experience as a medical professor -- Ko has billed himself as a "reasonable and pragmatic" alternative to the two big parties that "many middle voters cannot stand" anymore.
His brash rhetorical style has won him some support -- especially from younger people.
But critics say he has flip-flopped on issues depending on his audience, and Ko's past comments on women and LGBTQ people -- in one of the only territories in Asia-Pacific where same-sex couples have marital rights -- have also sparked controversy.
On China relations, Ko told AFP during an interview that "the relationship between the DPP government and Beijing is a deadlock".
He also agreed on bolstering the island's self-defence capabilities to make Beijing see that a war "comes with a high price", but stressed that "communication can prevent misfire".
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