China Ties on the Line as Taiwan Opposition Splits in Dramatic Feud

Ko Wen-je, Taiwan People's Party (TPP) chairman and presidential candidate, Terry Gou, Foxconn founder and presidential candidate, former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, Hou Yu-ih, presidential candidate of the main opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), and Eric Chu, Kuomintang's chairman attend a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan, on Nov. 23, 2023. Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters

TAIPEIT—Taiwan’s opposition parties, which seek closer China ties, registered separate presidential candidates on Friday after a dramatic split, potentially easing the way for the ruling party, which has defied Beijing’s pressure, to stay in power.

The Jan. 13 election is taking place as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which views Taiwan as its own territory, steps up military and political pressure to force the island to accept its sovereignty claims.