Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

The people of Taiwan have voted in six direct presidential elections since 1996, electing presidents of the Republic of China (ROC). Since the constitutional area of the ROC used to include all of China, a president was only legitimate in the past if they were elected by representatives of the entire Chinese population.

Those who were opposed to direct presidential elections at that time, such as former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), were worried that the ROC — which is so closely intertwined with their destinies — would change substantially and become a political entity that only included Taiwan’s territory. As a result, they accused those who supported direct presidential elections of being traitors, who were persecuted and punished.

Looking at the three US presidential debates from abroad, one cannot help but feel that this year’s election has fallen into a slander campaign between Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Trump, in particular, is notorious for making scandalous and outrageous remarks to rally his anti-establishment supporters and garner media attention. As a result, there has been a lack of thorough discussion over political visions and policy differences between the two.