Candidates for the position of chairman of Taiwan's largest opposition party are touring Taiwan to win party members' votes. Taoyuan City played host to the candidates from the opposition KMT on Monday.
KMT members will choose from four candidates on September 25. Most observers consider current chairman Johnny Chiang and former chairman Eric Chu to be the frontrunners.
At the event for candidates on Monday, Chiang said that the contest has been marred by personal attacks. He says he regrets that others are not willing to support his path of reform.
Chu disagrees, saying candidates are not attacking Chiang, but rather exchanging ideas for improving the party.
The issue of China's recent ban on Taiwan's custard apples also came up during the event. Chu says that the problem is not really based on safety issues with Taiwanese produce, but rather a result of poor cross-strait relations under the current DPP government. Chu says that is now hurting local farmers and the economy.
Chiang also says that the KMT is better at communicating with China than the DPP. He says that rising cross-strait tensions under President Tsai will continue to negatively impact Taiwan's people.