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Taiwan
ChinaPolitics

‘Taiwan needs a strong leader’: talk show host Jaw Shaw-kong announces his return 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
  • Jaw may team up with 2020 candidate Han Kuo-yu in bid for presidency in 2024, observers say

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Jaw Shaw-kong says he has been disappointed at the Kuomintang’s performance in opposition. Photo: CNA
Lawrence Chung

A popular talk show host once considered a star in the world of Taiwanese politics has rejoined the island’s main opposition party after almost 30 years away, in what observers say could signal the start of a run for the presidency in 2024.

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Jaw Shaw-kong announced his return to the Kuomintang (KMT) on Monday. He left it in 1993 to form the New Party, which advocates Taiwan’s reunification with mainland China.

The 70-year-old left politics altogether in 1996, two years after losing the Taipei city mayoral election to Chen Shui-bian, who went on to become president. As well as being a television personality, he is also chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of China.

While his decision to re-enter politics will be food for thought for Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), analysts say it might also cause problems for the KMT, by disrupting the plans of several of its heavyweights to challenge for the presidency in three years’ time.

Jaw explained his reasons for the career switch at a news conference on Monday.

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