Taiwan

Acer Inc. founder Stan Shih is slated to moderate the first round of the televised presidential debates on Sunday as details of debate formats were revealed on Monday.

The three candidates running in the presidential race plan to adopt different approaches in the upcoming debates, each focusing on the economy, presentation of party platforms, and personal vision.

The first debate will take place on Dec. 26 among the three vice-presidential candidates. The second and third debates will take place on Dec. 27 and Jan. 2 among the three presidential candidates .

The first debate will take place on Dec. 26 among the three vice presidential candidates.

There are about 40 days left before the 2016 presidential election. According to past practice, a televised presidential debate should be scheduled at this stage to allow candidates of various political parties to clarify their stances on key issues.

The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP's) withdrawal from a planned televised debate on a cross-strait service trade pact is "irresponsible," an aide to President Ma Ying-jeou criticized Wednesday.

Su Tseng-chang, chairman of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), will not participate in a previously announced televised debate against President Ma Ying-jeou over a service trade pact with China due to recent political developments.

A debate on a service trade pact with China between President Ma Ying-jeou and opposition Democratic Progressive Party Chairman Su Tseng-chang may not take place as scheduled because of the fallout from a controversial influence peddling case.

A senior aide to Presidential Ma Ying-jeou said Sunday that the Presidential Office will cooperate fully once the organizer of a proposed debate between the president and an opposition leader decides on a date.