Taiwan’s presidential contenders

33%
22%
24%

Lai Ching-te (above): Current Vice President is running for ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Lai, who is also DPP’s chairman, will name Hsiao Bi-khim (above right), Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to U.S. since 2020, as his running mate.

Hsiao can act as go- between for Taipei and Washington – Taiwan’s most important backer and arms supplier

Hou Yu-ih (above  left): Candidate for Taiwan’s main opposition party, Kuomintang (KMT). 
Hou supports closer ties with China but denies being pro-Beijing

Ko Wen-je (above): Former mayor of Taipei, Ko is candidate for Taiwan People’s Party (TPP).

Ko and Hou have agreed  to unite on joint ticket – standing as president and vice president – saying 
they will restart talks with Beijing over future of Taiwan

8%

Terry Gou (inset left): Billionaire former founder of Apple supplier, Foxconn, is running as independent.
Gou is under investigation by Chinese authorities for tax evasion, move interpreted by some as Beijing warning Gou not to continue his campaign



Taipei
Taichung
TAIWAN
PACIFIC OCEAN
Kaohsiung
Taiwan Strait
100km 60 miles

 Survey by broadcaster TVBS of 1,275 voters released on October 24

Sources: Focus Taiwan, Reuters Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS