The presidential candidate for the Kuomintang, Taiwan’s largest opposition party, has excluded the possibility of talks with China on unification if he is elected.
Hou Yu-ih on Thursday said that a victory for the KMT, which takes a softer stance on China than the ruling Democratic Progressive party, would offer little hope for Beijing to gain control over the country as it desires.
He added he would “not touch the issue of unification” while in office, and restarting dialogue with Beijing, a central plank of his campaign, could only come gradually after Taiwan further strengthens its defences. The remarks came as China’s government issued a direct warning to Taiwanese voters not to elect DPP candidate Lai Ching-te.
