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Han Kuo-yu
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Han Kuo-yu

Han Kuo-yu
Han Kuo-yu
Han Kuo-yu is one of the presidential candidates in the 2020 Taiwan election. The mayor of Kaohsiung, he is the Kuomintang party's candidate running against incumbent president Tsai Ing-wen.
Born
17 Jun 1957
Industry
Politics
Job Title
Politician
Taiwan opposition parties KMT and TPP cheer after parliament approved the defence spending bill, in Taipei on May 8. Photo: AFP
2026 Xi-Trump summit

Did US pressure before Xi-Trump summit force KMT hand on Taiwan’s defence budget?

Taiwan’s main opposition parties have cleared special defence budget bill after months of fractious debate and infighting.

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Taiwan

What’s behind the KMT’s internal splits over Taiwanese defence spending?

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Taiwan

Taiwan arms deals may be first to fall through as result of political deadlock

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Taiwan

How Trump’s Beijing bargaining could derail Taiwan’s defence budget

US leader’s talk of consulting Xi Jinping on arms sales could hand Taiwan’s opposition a ‘lifeline’ to reshape spending bill, experts say.

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US President Donald Trump’s remarks on arms sales have unsettled Taiwan watchers as they appear to violate one of the Six Assurances issued by Washington in 1982. Photo: Getty Images via AFP
Taiwan

Mainland China-friendly Taiwanese lawmaker tipped to lead democracy group

Taiwanese legislative speaker Han Kuo-yu of the KMT is expected to become chair of the Beijing-sanctioned Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, but some in the ruling DPP are concerned he could use the group to advance cross-strait ‘integration work’.

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Taiwan

Will dark horse pushing Taiwan reunification pull off upset in KMT race?

Chang Ya-chung has won over ‘deep blue’ KMT members and is leading opinion polls. But would he also make a viable presidential candidate when the majority is Taiwan-centric?

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Taiwan

Hopefuls line up to lead Taiwan’s Kuomintang out of the wilderness

Half a dozen candidates could challenge incumbent KMT chairman Johnny Chiang, including talk show host Jaw Shaw-kong.

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A number of contenders are signalling interest in being the next Kuomintang chairman. Photo: AFP
Taiwan

‘Taiwan needs a strong leader’: talk show host Jaw Shaw-kong returns to politics

Veteran lawmaker says he has not ruled out running for any post as he rejoins opposition Kuomintang party after almost 30 years away.

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Taiwan

Taiwan’s KMT turns to comic actor to tackle election tragedy

Stanley Fung tells public ‘democracy salon’ that the party needs to get back on its feet to save the Republic of China.

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Taiwan

Letters | Kaohsiung rout should be a ‘reform or perish’ call for KMT

KMT’s multiple electoral failures are just the tip of the iceberg – the problem is incapable leadership. The party must seek reform or risk irrelevance.

Dejected supporters of Kuomintang presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu follow the online counting of ballots in Kaohsiung on January 11. The party was defeated in the last two presidential elections, before the Kaohsiung mayoral setback in August. Photo: EPA-EFE
Taiwan

Taiwan parliament in turmoil again over disputed nomination

Opposition lawmakers knock down voting booths while supporters scuffle with police outside to protest ‘cronyism’.

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Scuffles break out during voting at Taiwan’s parliament on Friday between opposition and government lawmakers. Photo: AFP
Taiwan

Letters | Hong Kong people have a true friend in Taiwan: the Kuomintang

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Taiwan

Letters | To win back Taiwan, KMT must return to its anti-communist roots

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Taiwan

Letters | Three lessons for Beijing from Han Kuo-yu’s downfall in Taiwan

Beijing must stop trying to buy Taiwanese hearts and minds with business deals, start talking to Tsai Ing-wen’s administration instead of the KMT, and soften its Taiwan policy.

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Han Kuo-yu speaks during a presidential election campaign rally in Taipei, Taiwan, on January 9. Han was removed as mayor of the city of Kaohsiung following an unprecedented recall vote on June 6. Photo: Reuters
Taiwan

With its star gone, is it time for KMT to rethink its ties with Beijing?

Han Kuo-yu went from the Kuomintang’s great hope to its big disappointment in just two years, as the pro-independence camp gained momentum.

The Kuomintang might have to come up with a new approach to ties with the mainland, observers say. Photo: Reuters
Taiwan elections 2020

Editorial | Han Kuo-yu’s downfall a lesson in Taiwan politics

The ousted Kaohsiung mayor tried to run before he could walk by taking on the seasoned Tsai Ing-wen in island’s presidential election

Taiwan

Taiwan’s Tsai calls for reconciliation after mayoral recall vote, politician’s death

‘Result should be a warning to all politicians that the people can bestow power and can take it back,’ president says after Han Kuo-yu is ousted as Kaohsiung mayor.

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Taiwan

Han Kuo-yu, who lost Taiwan presidential race, now facing recall as mayor

Han had been criticised for running as KMT candidate against the DPP incumbent, Tsai Ing-wen, just months after being elected mayor; if he is ousted, the fallout would mean a stronger DPP hold on Taiwan politics and a possible revamping of KMT leadership.

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Han Kuo-yu lost out to incumbent Tsai Ing-wen in January’s presidential elections in Taiwan. Photo: Reuters
Taiwan

Sino File | Taiwan election: Hong Kong won it, Beijing lost it

Beijing’s pressure on Taipei gave the Democratic Progressive Party a boost in the island’s polls, on its way to a landslide victory over the Kuomintang.

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Opinion | KMT needs to rethink its China stance to woo young voters

The tired approach of the ‘1992 consensus’ no longer resonates with voters. The young Taiwanese who gave Tsai Ing-wen a resounding electoral victory have grown wary of communist China. Can the KMT answer their needs?

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Taiwan elections 2020

New hope for Hong Kong protesters in Taiwan after Tsai election win

There are an estimated 200 protesters who have fled to the island on extended tourist visas.

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Hong Kong protesters attend a rally in support of Tsai Ing-wen outside the Democratic Progressive Party headquarters in Taipei. Photo: Reuters
Taiwan elections 2020

Where to for KMT after Han Kuo-yu’s failed bid for Taiwan president?

Kuomintang leaders step down after sobering loss, promising to take the result ‘very seriously’.

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The KMT campaign was undermined by divisions within the party, observers say. Photo: Bloomberg
Taiwan elections 2020

Entangled US-China-Taiwan relations likely just got more complicated

After Taiwanese voters send a message to Beijing, analysts think it might retaliate, further complicating China’s strategic rivalry with Washington.

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Taiwan elections 2020

Taiwan elections: Tsai Ing-wen re-elected as rival concedes defeat

President’s approach to Beijing was one of the key issues in the election and victory will be seen as a mandate to continue her approach.

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Taiwan elections 2020

Taiwanese man wanted for theft votes himself into police custody

Suspect, who said he had no idea he had been on a wanted list for four years, detained at polling station in Kaohsiung.

People across Taiwan went to the polls on Saturday to elect their president and lawmakers. Photo: AFP
Taiwan elections 2020

Taiwan here we come: the mainland Chinese who bypassed Beijing’s travel ban

‘I suffered a lot in the Cultural Revolution and I know how valuable democracy and freedom is,’ 73-year-old retiree says.

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A university lecturer from mainland China says she is “sort of envious’ that people in Taiwan have the right to vote. Photo: Bloomberg
Taiwan elections 2020

Taiwan poll: Tsai takes early lead as count gets under way, TV stations say

Early results show incumbent president with about 57 per cent of the vote, with main rival back on 38 per cent.

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Taiwan elections 2020

Hong Kong protests loom large in Taiwan polls. But who benefits?

The saying that Taiwan is just a ‘ballot away’ from Hong Kong is timely reminder abroad for those from the self-ruled island to go home and vote.President Tsai has said ‘Today’s Hong Kong; tomorrow’s Taiwan’, ahead of Saturday’s polls, in which she seeks re-election.

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