TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The race for KMT leadership narrowed this week as former Deputy Secretary-General Chang Ya-ping (張雅屏) and Changhua County Council Speaker Hsieh Dian-lin (謝典林) withdrew on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
Chang said his decision was based on three core values that he believes have now been fulfilled: adherence to "One China" under the Constitution, alluding to the 1992 Consensus, strengthening the party’s organizational capabilities, and electing a chair whose role is to support candidates rather than seek office themselves, per UDN.
The 1992 Consensus refers to a supposed agreement under which the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China both claim to be the sole legitimate representative of China. The KMT has historically interpreted the consensus as allowing for differing interpretations by each side.
Chang added that the choice of chair carries weighty implications for the party’s future and cross-strait relations, emphasizing that the KMT needs unity, not division, at this critical juncture.
Hsieh, meanwhile, said he was persuaded by KMT Deputy Chair Sean Lien (連勝文) to step aside, per UP Media. He explained that his primary goal in entering the race was to highlight key reforms he believes the party should pursue. Having brought attention to those ideas, he said, his mission was complete.
Their withdrawals come shortly after former Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) declared his intent to run, saying he would consult KMT veteran Jaw Shau-kong (趙少康) to determine who is best suited to lead the party. Hau’s entry reflects ongoing efforts within the KMT to rally behind a high-profile candidate following Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen’s (盧秀燕) repeated confirmation that she will not seek to become chair.
An internal KMT poll conducted Sept. 2–6 revealed that a majority of party members support Lu’s decision to stay in Taichung, with 62.2% backing her choice and just 16.4% hoping she would run for chair, per UP Media. Support for her decision was strongest in northern Taiwan (69.2%), followed by central Taiwan (63.3%).
The survey also showed that 62.7% of respondents believe the KMT chair should not be the same person as the party’s presidential candidate, while 23.5% said the roles could be combined. When asked whether magistrates or mayors should concurrently serve as KMT chair, 48.9% said it was unsuitable, while 31.9% found it acceptable.
The poll sampled 1,073 landline users and has a 95% confidence level.
So far, seven individuals have formally declared their candidacies for KMT chair:
- Legislator Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強)
- Sun Yat-sen School President Chang Ya-chung (張亞中)
- Central Standing Committee member Sun Chien-ping (孫健萍)
- Former Changhua County Magistrate Cho Po-yuan (卓伯源)
- Former Legislator Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文)
- Lawyer Li Han-jung (李漢中)
- Former National Assembly Member Tsai Chih-hung (蔡志弘)
