Taiwan's KMT-TPP Joint Presidential Ticket Talks Break Down

Disagreement over interpretation of opinion polls stalls negotiations, but KMT chairman insists talks are not dead.

Talks between Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) for a joint presidential ticket have broken down over a disagreement on the interpretation of opinion polls.
The two parties had previously agreed to use public opinion surveys to determine their presidential candidate and running mate, but disagreed on the margin of error in the polls.
KMT chairman Eric Chu Li-luan insists the joint-ticket talks are not yet dead and encourages both sides to resolve their differences.
Most opinion polls indicate that a joint ticket headed by either Hou Yu-ih of the KMT or Ko Wen-je of the TPP would fare well against Vice-President William Lai Ching-te, the Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate.
The joint ticket of KMT and TPP is seen as a potential opportunity for smoother cross-strait relations with China.