Lai lauded former president Chiang Ching-kuo – son of Taiwan’s postwar strongman ruler Chiang Kai-shek – for his opposition to communism, but added that when China threatens Taiwan, KMT leaders like former president Ma Ying-jeou now criticise Taiwan for provoking China.
“I want all the country’s people to judge: Is the KMT worthy of Mr Ching-kuo?”
China has described the election as an internal Chinese matter and that interference accusations are an effort by the DPP to win votes.
Speaking to reporters after the event, Hou denounced what he said was slander and efforts to paint the party red, the colour of China’s communist party.
The KMT traditionally favours close ties with China but strongly denies being pro-Beijing. Like the DPP, the KMT says that only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.
“We don’t need to have an election by fabricating slander and painting (us) red, and we don’t need manipulation by ideology,” Hou added.
Polls show Lai in the lead by varying margins though Hou has been closing the gap. The third presidential candidate is former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je from the small Taiwan People’s Party, but he has trailed in the polls since an attempt to form a joint ticket with the KMT collapsed in acrimony last month.
Source: CNA
