Election News

Taiwan to Vote in Election that China Calls “Peace and War”

Published

4 months ago

2024-01-10

Rayuf

Taiwan to Vote in Election that China Calls Peace and War

(V.News) – On Saturday, Taiwan goes to the polls to elect a new president and parliament under the shadow of a Chinese assertiveness that has referred to the vote as a choice between “peace and war.”

According to Taiwan security officials, Beijing’s military and economic pressure on Taiwan could continue regardless of the outcome of the elections. Taipei continues to object strongly to Beijing’s claim to Taiwan, and Beijing has never renounced using force to subjugate it.

TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, is also based in Taiwan, a territorially important country to Beijing. With both major parties supporting Taiwan’s sovereignty but offering contrasting views on the island’s relations with China, the future of Taiwan’s fraught ties with its giant neighbor will be at stake in the elections.

DPP Vice President Lai Ching-te, a presidential candidate for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), offered talks with China and vowed not to upset the status quo in response to China’s threats. Lai said that Taiwan is in the midst of a battle between democracy and totalitarianism at a Tuesday campaign rally.

According to the DPP, Beijing is spreading fake news and exploiting military and economic pressure to interfere with the election. The Chinese government has branded those accusations against the DPP as dirty tricks and a ploy to “hype up” a threat to win votes.

China has staged two rounds of major war games in the past year and a half near Taiwan, including firing missiles into waters off the island in August 2022, as Beijing asserts sovereignty over the democratic island.

A leading opposition party in Taiwan, the Kuomintang (KMT), has attacked the DPP as separatists and pledged strong opposition to Taiwan’s independence. They also pledged to dialogue with China and continue to strengthen Taiwan’s defenses.

Taiwan’s presidential candidate, Hou Yu-ih, opposes Taiwan’s independence, will allow cross-strait peace, restart dialogue and exchanges, strengthen national defense, and let everyone live in peace in Taiwan.

FUTURE TAIWAN-CHINA RELATIONS:

Following a civil war with Mao Zedong’s communists, the defeated Republic of China government withdrew to Taiwan in 1949, establishing the People’s Republic of China. The Republic of China is Taiwan’s official name.

While both main parties believe Taiwan is already an independent country, they hold opposing views on relations with China. The KMT claims that both Taipei and Beijing are part of a single China, but each can interpret this differently under the “1992 consensus,” a tacit agreement signed between the then-KMT administration and China in 1992.

The DPP contends that Taiwan’s people should decide the country’s future, rejecting Beijing’s claims of sovereignty. If the DPP wins the presidential election, it will be the first time the party has held power for three consecutive terms since direct presidential voting began in 1996.

How China, where President Xi Jinping is embarking on a fresh anti-corruption sweep in the military and has persistent economic issues, reacts to the election results will be critical.

Taiwanese officials have frequently warned voters that Beijing is attempting to impact election outcomes through a “multifront” campaign, ranging from clandestine influence operations in temples and trade restrictions to financing low-cost vacations to China for local lawmakers and pressing a popular music band.

One Taiwanese security official, commenting on the condition of anonymity because to the sensitivity of the subject, said China might conduct more drills between the election and May 20, when the new president takes office.

“But certainly we must consider China’s problems, including its tolerance for international criticism,” the official went on to say. Since late December, Xi has repeatedly emphasized the significance of “reunification” with Taiwan in public statements, without mentioning the election or the use of force.

A second Taiwan security official warned that regardless of who is chosen, Beijing might exert economic pressure on the incoming leader before May 20, possibly by imposing anti-dumping charges on Taiwanese imports, after accusing Taiwan of installing unfair trade barriers last month.

According to an internal security assessment of various scenarios following the vote, Taiwan’s security units anticipate China will continue to whittle away at the few nations with official diplomatic ties with Taipei, which is now number 13, and increase its economic pressure, including trade inquiries.

LAWMAKER ELECTION:

In addition to the two major parties, the 2019-founded Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) has a third presidential candidate: Ko Wen-je, a former mayor of Taipei.

Despite the party’s present dismal representation in the legislature (only five seats out of 113), Ko has garnered the enthusiastic support of many young Taiwanese, who have shown up in droves to his campaign rallies to voice their disapproval of the exorbitant cost of housing and other necessities.

Both the DPP and the KMT have made winning a majority in parliament a central campaign issue, highlighting the importance of this election. Over the last four years, the DPP has controlled more than half of the legislature, giving it the ability to easily enact laws. After serving two consecutive four-year terms in office, DPP President Tsai Ing-wen is legally unable to compete for reelection.

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Election News

Biden’s 2024 Re-Election Campaign Bleeding Donors Over Gaza

Published

2 hours ago

2024-05-21

Geoff Thomas

Biden continues to lag behind: Getty Images

The April fundraising totals of President Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign fell behind those of his opponent Donald Trump for the first time since the former president intensified his joint operation with the Republican National Committee and hosted high-dollar fundraisers.

After Joe Biden halted arms shipments to Israel in support of its conflict with Hamas, donors who never before considered supporting Donald Trump are now contemplating cast their millions in his direction.

Four donors who contributed tens of millions of dollars during the 2020 election cycle have informed The Free Press that, now that they are aware of Biden’s stance on the Israeli conflict, they are reconsidering their contributions.

The Biden and Democratic National Committee campaigns reported raising over $51 million in April, which is less than the $90 million they raised in March and the $76 million reported by the Republican Party and Donald Trump for the month, according to the campaigns.

Since securing the Republican presidential nomination in March, Trump is now eligible to solicit contributions from the Republican National Committee.

The initial days of April witnessed a record-breaking $50.5 million in donations collected by Trump during an event at the residence of billionaire investor John Paulson in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump has proposed Paulson as a prospective Treasury secretary.

Trump out raising Biden

On Monday, the Save America entity affiliated with Trump filed a report with the Federal Election Commission detailing legal expenses exceeding $3.3 million for the month.

The April fundraising efforts of the Trump campaign were characterized as “extraordinarily remarkable” in light of the candidate’s near-daily confinement to a courtroom for the past four weeks in opposition to Biden’s trial, the campaign said in a statement.

More than five months remain until the November 5 election, and national polls tie Biden and Trump. However, recent polls indicate that Trump holds a slight advantage in the battleground states that will determine the outcome of the election.

The Telegraph reports that on economic issues such as inflation, Trump receives higher approval ratings from voters in general compared to Biden, which is causing concern within the Biden campaign.

Externally, the campaign exudes an aura of unwavering assurance. The organization consistently disparages Trump and the Republicans in its press releases and has allocated tens of millions of dollars towards advertising to support this position.

It disregards polling that consistently indicate the president’s weakness on a national level and, more significantly, in every pivotal swing state. Neither can the campaign assert with credibility that everything is in order, nor have they explicitly embraced the underdog status that the polls appear to bestow.

Biden continues to lag behind with less than six months until Election Day and only four months until early voting begins in three states. An unsuccessful candidate who gained the popular vote at this juncture dates back to 1992.

It is evident that Biden is challenging recent political events, considering Trump’s advantage in the Electoral College, which he likely retains even if he loses the popular vote by two to three percentage points, as he did in 2016.

Biden’s number dismal

Further examination of the data makes matters worse for him. At this time, Biden’s employment approval is at an all-time low for a first-term president. Approximately forty percent is where he stands, which is a tier below where Trump was at the same juncture.

Regardless of the advertising campaigns, positive media coverage, or gradual decline in inflation, his situation has not improved. Without a doubt, the campaign is cognizant of the fact that re-election for an American president has been unattainable with such dismal poll numbers, at least since Harry Truman in 1948.

This likely explains Biden’s unexpected gambit of challenging Trump to a June 27 debate. In general, incumbents avoid debates unless compelled to do so.

The explicit desire for a debate by Biden, which occurs prior to either candidate receiving official nomination from their party, indicates that he is cognizant of the fact that he is deeply trailing and must act swiftly to regain momentum.

Biden’s low favorability indicates that even a credible performance will not right the ship if Trump maintains his position. Biden must make a significant decision if the surveys continue to reflect this dismal state in early August, subsequent to a substantial debate and considerable additional expenditure amounting to tens of millions.

The party is unable to compel him to leave in accordance with the convention proceedings. Almost all the delegates will be secured for him, and they are frequently pledged to and elected directly by Biden. Therefore, Biden has the option to quit the ticket or not.

Election News

Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

Published

2 days ago

2024-05-19

Kiara Grace

AP News - VOR News Image

IMOLA, ITALY Max – Verstappen defeated McLaren’s Lando Norris to win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday, extending his Formula One championship lead.

Verstappen began on pole and led Norris from the start but was pushed by the McLaren driver near the end, winning by less than a second.

“I lost grip, especially in the closing 10 to 15 laps. I slid a lot. “I saw Lando closing in,” Verstappen explained. “It’s quite difficult when the tires are no longer working, and you have to run flat out, so I couldn’t afford to make too many mistakes. Thankfully, we didn’t, and we’re overjoyed to have won here today.”

AP – VOR News Image

Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

It was the defending champion’s fifth victory in seven Grand Prix races this year, following Verstappen’s defeat by Norris in Miami two weeks ago.

Norris’ Second Place Sunday demonstrated the McLaren team’s credentials as the closest contender to Verstappen and Red Bull this season. “It hurts me to say it, but one or two more laps, I think I would have had him,” stated Norris. “It would have been beautiful, but just not today.”

Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, the Italian team’s first podium finish in Imola since 2006.

Overtaking is always challenging on the narrow Imola track, and this year, asphalt run-off zones on key corners were replaced with gravel traps, discouraging risk-taking even more.

AP – VOR News Image

Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

Leclerc got in on Norris midway through the race but made a mistake and ran across the grass, costing him time.

Oscar Piastri qualified second for McLaren but was relegated to fifth after a penalty for impeding Kevin Magnussen in a Haas. He got ahead of Sainz during the pit stops and finished fourth, ahead of the Spanish driver.

Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time champion, and his teammate George Russell finished sixth and seventh following a challenging weekend for Mercedes.

Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, began 11th following a mistake in qualifying and finished ninth. His major impact on the race came when he briefly held up Norris and Leclerc following their pit stops, thereby assisting Verstappen.

AP – VOR News Image

Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

Yuki Tsunoda took ninth place for RB, while Lance Stroll finished tenth for Aston Martin.

Verstappen has a 48-point advantage over Leclerc, who has surged ahead of Perez to second place.

SOURCE – (AP)

Politics

Trudeau Liberals Electoral Chances are as Good as Dead

Published

5 days ago

2024-05-16

Geoff Thomas

Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party’s popularity has plummeted to record lows in recent polls. Scandals and his carbon tax weakened Trudeau’s support after years of support. Many election Analysts belive Justin Trudeau and his Liberals will not survive the next election.

The newest Angus Reid survey shows the Conservatives leading nationwide, with Trudeau and his Liberals losing support in most provinces, especially Ontario and Quebec. Analysts say Trudeau’s leadership fatigue, unhappiness over inflation, ridiculous carbon tax, and continual policy flip-flopping are driving voters away.

Trudeau’s carbon tax is unpopular across Canada. Many Canadians hate its higher prices for homes and businesses.

Critics say it unfairly targets energy, threatening jobs and prosperity. Skeptics believe the tax fails to solve global climate challenges despite claims it will reduce emissions.

Provincial governments like Alberta passionately oppose federal intrusion. The carbon tax still divides society.

Steven Guilbeault, Trudeau’s Environment and Climate Change Minister, has lost support from neutral public and provincial governments and the powerful climate action lobby.

Don Braid of the Calgary Herald says Chickens with their heads cut off run around in circles. In politics, the federal Liberals are starting to exhibit this postmortem behaviour.

Braid says their electoral chances are as good as dead, and their head, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, seems only tenuously attached to his party. Still, they dash around crazily, patching this and launching that, all while sticking to their unpopular policies, ministers and leader.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault, the core cabinet fowl who said no new roads should be built in Canada, continues to press his climate extremism.

“The result is political fiasco.”

Alberta and Saskatchewan have always been bitterly opposed to many measures. But Guilbeault is now losing support from the public, provincial governments that once were at least neutral and, crucially, the powerful climate action lobby.

The disasters are self-inflicted. Trudeau and Guilbeault stuck to the carbon tax even after the policy’s disastrous deflation by the “carve out” for home heating oil, a benefit mainly to Atlantic Canada.

Their faux-tough response — nobody else gets that, dammit! — actually cost farmers a break that had been planned, but suddenly looked like another exemption.

The carbon tax, revealed as a purely political tool, is ripe for axing by a potential new leader like Mark Carney. Even New Democrats have argued that the tax should exit, stage left.

Now, Guilbeault has introduced amendments to the Impact Assessment Act, allegedly bringing it into line with the Supreme Court ruling that found the law seriously intrudes on powers rightly belonging to the provinces.

Trudeau’s power grabs shot down

Guilbeault has never acknowledged this was a defeat. He treats the ruling as a simple policy problem rather than a 5-2 thumping by judges not usually known for hostility to federal power grabs.

Alberta was predictably furious about the amendments. Premier Danielle Smith always said Guilbeault would make a gesture and proceed as usual, forcing yet another court challenge.

“When you look at the unconstitutionality of the first draft, you can’t just make tweaks and bring this in line with the Constitution,” says Rebecca Schulz, Alberta’s minister for environment and protected areas.

“That’s really the issue here. Minister Guilbeault still has the ability to involve himself in projects that are within provincial jurisdiction.

“In the end, this piece of legislation remains unconstitutional. We are going to be taking this back to court and I’m confident in our position, because their changes don’t actually address the issues that we’ve raised.”

The trouble is, legal uncertainty causes still more delays in building crucial projects. Ottawa imposed a ban on designating new major projects after the court ruling. It has been in effect for seven months.

Trudeau’s middle ground game not working

The Impact Assessment Agency, the powerful regulatory body that oversees all this, said in a statement: “No decisions to designate projects will be taken. Consideration of any new designation requests will only resume, as appropriate, once amended legislation is in force.”

Most striking is the fury from the climate action lobby toward Guilbeault’s amendments.

“Overall, the bill is a complete federal abdication to address proposed high-carbon projects such as in situ oil mines,” Steven Hazell, a retired environment lawyer and federal regulator told the National Observer, Canada’s best chronicler of climate stories and policy.

Green party Leader Elizabeth May said the government was “erring on the side of stupidity.” May sees the court decision as an opportunity to go further with legislation, not retreat to meet demands of provincial jurisdiction.

She’s the politician who believes the country should be put under virtual martial law to deal with the climate emergency, with all power to Ottawa. And those people are, more or less, the Liberals’ natural allies.That’s where Trudeau and his crew have got themselves as they race around, trying to find a murky middle ground on everything from climate action to taxation and Israel’s war against Hamas (no major religious group in Canada now favours the Liberals, according to a new poll from the Angus Reid Institute).Source: The Calgary Herald