Taiwan Roundup: Close elections, Taiwan strait, Chinese invasion

Close Elections

The Taiwan Constitutional Court has ruled that any candidate running for public office can request a recount if the result of an election is within a certain margin. The ruling added that candidates who have lost, but whose number of votes was within a 0.003 margin of error may apply to their district court to seal all or a portion of the ballots and call for a recount. The recount should be concluded within 20 days, according to reports from local media Taipei Times.

Taiwan Strait

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday, November 16 emphasised the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco. According to reports from local media Taipei Times, The US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also reaffirmed the US’ commitment to supporting Taiwan's self-defense capacity. Taiwan welcomed Austin's statement as a demonstration of firm US support for Taiwan's safety and peace in the Taiwan Strait.

Election coalition

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) on Wednesday, November 15 agreed to utilise public polling to decide on a coalition presidential ticket, with results set to be announced on Saturday. For each poll, if the winner exceeds the statistical margin of error, they are to receive a “point”. If neither exceeds the margin of error, it would count as a point toward a Hou-Ko joint ticket, as reported by the Taipei Times.

 Chinese invasion

During a four-hour meeting with President Joe Biden on Wednesday, November 15, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said Taiwan is the "most important and sensitive issue," but reportedly denied any plans to invade Taiwan in 2027. Xi expressed Beijing's preference for a peaceful annexation of Taiwan and outlined conditions under which force might be employed, without specifying them, as reported by local media Taiwan News. Xi denied plans for military action against Taiwan.

Reporters harassed

 Taiwanese reporters were harassed in San Francisco while filming the St Regis Hotel where Chinese President Xi Jinping stayed during the APEC summit. A man speaking Mandarin with a mainland Chinese accent asked the reporters not to film a portion of a driveway with a makeshift structure covered in white cloth. An altercation ensued, and security measures at the hotel were bolstered, with second-floor window panes covered in frosted film and barricades set up around sidewalks, local media the Taipei Times reported.