One thing Hou Yu-ih wants Taiwan¡¯s voters to know about him as they prepare to elect a new president is that he used to be a great cop.

The 66-year-old¡¯s decades-long career, which saw him work his way up from a police officer to become Taiwan¡¯s top law enforcement official, is a core part of the image he¡¯s projecting ahead of the election in January 2024. Hou¡¯s pitch is simple. His time working as a cop in very high-stakes situations makes him the best choice to manage one of the world¡¯s most dangerous geopolitical hot spots as Taiwan¡¯s next president.

¡°I have participated in countless gun battles and I always stood on the front line,¡± Hou said during an interview in New York on Saturday. ¡°Facing down opponents in a hostage situation teaches you that whether you¡¯re on the offensive or the defensive, you must also engage in dialogue and negotiations.¡±