"I had previously stated on many occasions that I would not run in the 2016 presidential election. But at this crucial moment, it was a decision I had no choice but to make in order to improve the health of Taiwans democracy."
Eric Li-luan Chu is a Taiwanese politician, statistician, and academic who served as the chairman of the Kuomintang from 2015 to 2016 and from 2021 to 2025.
"The 930,000-odd voters that supported my rival over me and the greater number of voters (than in the 2010 election) who chose not to take part in this (2014) election or were unwilling to come to express support, whatever the reason - as the incumbent mayor, my city government team and everyone else will certainly review (this election) with humility."
"I am always with all of you and everyones old pal. But its better not to call me old."
"I have learned to never give up, to take the necessary risks to win and to seek victory amid defeat. This is the spirit of Taiwan. We stick with it to the end and never quit."
"Then I remembered the phrase do not forsake your original intentions — which was why I decided 17 years ago to run as a legislator and make changes to our society to make the lives of the next generation better and give Taiwans future more hope."
"I had no option to turn down the (Vice Premiership) appointment or make other choices as the country needs me at a time when it is facing the most trying challenge it ever has faced."
"This is the time we have to make a decision (to replace Hung Hsiu-chu as the KMT candidate for 2016 ROC presidential election), and it is a decision we have to make."