Taiwan too risky for Taylor Swift’s tour, opposition party claims

Singer’s decision to not visit blamed on current administration increasing tensions with Beijing

TAIWAN’S ruling party made the country too risky for Taylor Swift to tour with its China-sceptic rhetoric, the island’s political opposition claimed as it entered a tense final stretch of election campaigning.

In a fiery debate ahead of presidential and legislative elections on Jan 13, the KMT party’s vice-presidential candidate said the pop star had initially agreed to perform in Taiwan this year but later reversed course owing to “geopolitical risks”.

Jaw Shau-kong argued that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was responsible for Swift’s about-turn because it had increased tensions with China, Taiwanese media reported.

China claims Taiwan as its own and has ramped up military and political pressure on the island. The culture ministry quickly shut down Jaw’s suggestion, saying it did not reflect reality.

It noted that bands including Coldplay, the Backstreet Boys and Korean girl group Blackpink played in Taiwan in 2023, and that singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran planned to stop in the southern city of Kaohsiung this year.

“These all serve as the best proof to show that what the KMT vice-presidential candidate said was not true,” a ministry statement said.

Swift is only scheduled to perform in two Asian nations – Singapore and Japan – as part of her 2024 Eras Tour.

The Daily Telegraph contacted Swift’s PR agent for comment on Jaw’s claim.

The KMT has framed Taiwan’s Jan 13 elections in stark terms, suggesting a vote for the party is a vote for peace and warning that backing the DPP could lead to war with China.

The DPP meanwhile criticised the KMT for parroting China’s line and argued the electorate faced a choice between “democracy and autocracy”.

Ahead of an election poll blackout that began yesterday, the DPP was on track to win a record third straight term in power, reaffirming the electorate’s backing for the status of de-facto independence from mainland China.

However, some surveys put the DPP candidate Lai Ching-te only a few points ahead of KMT rival Hou Yu-ih.

Ko Wen-je, the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) candidate, trails in third place and could split the opposition vote to the DPP’S advantage.

The final days of campaigning will likely result in intensifying clashes over which party can best handle relations with China. The KMT has accused the DPP of being dangerous supporters of formal independence for Taiwan – a charge the party denies.

It views constructive relations with Beijing as the best guarantee of Taiwan’s security, while the DPP believes pursuing closer ties with the United States is the best way to protect the island from China’s territorial ambitions.

The dispute over Swift marked the latest example of raucous electioneering ahead of the Jan 13 poll, with candidates exchanging political blows over topics ranging from property disputes to whether drinking whisky is out of touch.

All three main presidential contenders have faced scrutiny over their property portfolios in a country where the younger generation in particular is struggling with the high cost of housing and stagnant wages.

The election comes after China’s president Xi Jinping said in his New Year’s address that “reunification” with Taiwan was inevitable. He did not mention the forthcoming election.

All three political parties reject China’s sovereignty claims and say only the island’s people can decide their future.

'These all serve as proof that what the KMT vicepresidential candidate said was not true’