Women vie for Taiwan vote

Hung, deputy head of the island's "legislature," won an average of 46.2 percent in three polls. KMT rules state that Hung had to secure at least 30 percent in the polls to enter the "presidential" race. The results, which were released by KMT Secretary-General Lee Shu-chuan on Sunday, were based on three polls conducted by different pollsters on Friday and Saturday, with each required to use a sampling of 1,200 people. Hung's nomination still has to be confirmed by a convention of KMT party delegates next month. The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has endorsed the candidacy of its chairwoman, Tsai Ing-wen, for the 2016 election on April 15. Battle between two women The latest survey conducted by Taiwan-based Apple Daily showed that 54.91 percent of those polled support Hung's candidacy in the upcoming "presidential election." Although there was a possibility that many pro-DPP respondents chose Hung in the polls to prevent the KMT's more influential figures from overshadowing Tsai, the polls still indicated strong support for Hung, Hu Benliang, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Taiwan Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), told the Global Times. "The high support rate is partly because she demonstrates rare qualities of courage and responsibility when the KMT heavyweights, including the KMT chairman, Eric Chu Li-luan, refused to run for fear they would lose to the DPP," Hu said. "Besides, Hung has clear political views on issues like cross-Straits ties while Tsai dodged it," Chang Ya-chung, an international relations professor at National Taiwan University, told the Global Times. Hung, who opposes "Taiwan independence" and supports a cross-Straits peace agreement with the Chinese mainland, has made headway in articulating cross-Straits relations while Tsai was ambiguous about her policy. When asked about her stance on cross-Straits ties and the 1992 Consensus, Tsai only said the DPP will "maintain the status quo." Hung's clear stance is conducive to the "structural stability" between the two sides, which is a prerequisite for further economic cooperation when explaining to Taiwan people about the ties, Chang said, adding that Hung will keep economic ties with the mainland open. In 2014, trade across the Straits reached $198.31 billion while the island's trade surplus with the mainland was $105.77 billion, the Xinhua News Agency reported in January. "Her advocacy will also press the DPP to clarify its policy toward the mainland, forcing it to seek a middle path between its consistent position of 'Taiwan independence' and Hung's standpoint," Li He, deputy director of the Beijing-based National Society of Taiwan Studies, told the Global Times. Although Tsai seems more popular, Hung is creating pressure on Tsai, Wang Jianmin, a cross-Straits scholar at CASS, told the Global Times on Sunday. Born into humble beginnings, Hung has been called "Little Hot Pepper" for her outspoken and fiery style, which contrasts sharply with Tsai, who belongs to a "stratum" of "bureaucratic privilege," Wang said. Experts said they predict a rare competition between the two women against the backdrop of a male-dominated political culture, if Hung is nominated. "With more equal rights granted to women, the electorate has attached greater attention to their capabilities to maintain social stability than their gender," Li said. Permit-free policy to mainland Also on Sunday, Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, announced the Chinese mainland plans to lift the entry permit visa for Taiwan residents. Taiwan residents must currently apply for a visa-like entry permit to visit the mainland. The plan to offer the permit-free policy was announced as Yu promised to "continue to create better conditions for cross-Straits exchanges." "The plan showcases the mainland's openness toward Taiwan as Taiwan's economy increasingly depends on trade with the Chinese mainland," Li said. The Chinese mainland has become Taiwan's largest trading partner, biggest importer and second largest exporter, contributes most to the island's trade surplus, Taiwan-based Central News Agency reported. "In addition, the permit-free policy will enhance people-to-people exchanges across the Taiwan Straits. Even the DPP will be forced to accept the trend," Hu said.