Taiwan Presidential Election And Biden-Xi Bilateral In US: Key Details Inside

On Tuesday, Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) – the self-ruled island’s leading pro-Beijing political group – and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) announced they would join forces for the January 13 election, but they haven’t decided which candidate will be at the top of the ticket.

Local outlet Daily News released a poll on Monday that showed Lai Ching-te, vice president and candidate for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), as the frontrunner with 26% of the popular vote. TPP’s Ko Wen-je came in second with 21%, while KMT’s Hou Yu-ih took 18%.

The two leading opposition parties struck “a cooperation agreement, creating a new record in Taiwan’s political history,” according to KMT heavyweight and former president Ma Ying-jeou. “This cooperation will enable mutual assistance between the two parties in future elections.”

Ensuring “Peace And Stability In The Republic Of China”

The political groups agreed to have three experts evaluate polls conducted from November 7 to 17, with the results of the leading candidate expected to be released later this week. TPP’s Ko hailed the agreement announced Tuesday as “a historic moment”.

Referring to Taiwan’s official name, KMT’s Hou highlighted the need to “work together hand in hand to ensure peace and stability in the Republic of China.” Taiwan’s focus on looming presidential election has come against a backdrop of a key Biden-Xi bilateral in the US.

Highly Anticipated Biden-Xi Meeting Ahead Of Apec Summit

US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are set to hold a high-profile meeting in California on Wednesday, and it appears there is no shortage of potentially tricky topics to discuss. Trade, war and Taiwan will likely be on the agenda.

The discussion shall come nine months after a controversy engulfing a Chinese spy balloon saga sent relations between the two countries to a new low. Xi is on his first visit to the US since 2017. Following talks with Biden, he is set to attend the annual Apec Summit.

While the bilateral isn’t expected to end tensions between Washington and Beijing, it is a sign that the world’s biggest economies want to maintain relations, despite trade tensions, tit-for-tat sanctions and prominent questions over the future of Taiwan.