dissatisfaction with low pay, expensive housing, lack of opportunity, local issues have never been the ruling party s strength. it is why they lost the last round of local elections. but partparty s two term presid put taiwan on the global stage like never before. and ran on a continuity ticket. translator: we are telling the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we still stand on the side of democracy. reporter: and he says safe guard taiwan from china s ongoing intimidation and threats. within the last couple of hours, we received confirmation from the american institute of taiwan which is essentially the u.s. de facto embassy here that group of senior but former u.s. officials ank acting in their private capacity but sent by the united states are on the ground here to meet