These guidelines have been drawn up in accordance with Section 1, Article 42 of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Law.

Article 2

The Central Election Commission (henceforth termed "the Commission") should hold candidates' policy forums during the campaign activities period of the presidential and vicepresidential election; expenses for such forums shall be the responsibility of the Commission.

Air time for the aforementioned televised candidates' forums should be provided by the Taiwan Television Company, China Television Company, Chinese Television System, and the Chinese Public Television Broadcasting Development Fund in consultation with the Commission.

Article 3

Four televised policy forums shall be held, of which three shall involve presidential candidates and one shall involve vicepresidential candidates. Each candidate will have thirty minutes during each forum to air their political views.

The production, recording, and broadcast of the policy forums shall be the responsibility of the aforementioned television stations; lots shall be drawn to determine which television station shall be responsible for which forum.

Article 4

The televised policy forums shall be broadcast live from the television stations at which they are produced. Candidates should arrive at the specified location of the forum within a specified period of time. Before the forum begins, candidates should draw lots to determine their speaking order using the order in which they signed in at the studio; the order selected by drawing lots should not be altered.

If a candidate has not arrived at the studio at the time lots are drawn, the moderator shall draw a lot on the absent candidate's behalf.

Article 5

Candidates should speak on their political views in sequence according to the order determined by drawing lots; candidates shall neither speak ahead of time nor delay. If a candidate whose time to speak has arrived and whose name has been called by the moderator three times fails to go to the podium and speak, that candidate's opportunity to speak shall be forfeited.

If a candidate fails to arrive at the studio, fails to go to the podium and speak when their name is called three times by the moderator, or stops speaking before the time allotted has expired, either the candidate scheduled to speak next shall then begin or the forum will be concluded; any remaining time shall be employed by the Commission to conduct election guidance.

Article 6

Candidates participating in the policy forums must speak in person and may not use other individuals as substitutes or request that taped presentations be broadcast.

Candidates presenting their political views are not permitted to carry dangerous objects or engage in behavior that disturbs public order or violates good etiquette.

Apart from the moderator and election personnel designated by the Commission, other individuals shall not be permitted to attend the forums. Props and backdrops used at the studio shall be arranged for by the television station in coordination with the Commission.

Article 7

The Commission shall appoint personnel to serve as the moderators of the televised policy forums. Moderators shall be responsible for hosting the forums and maintaining order.

Article 8

A person responsible for timing shall be present at each forum, and shall begin timing as soon as the moderator indicates that a candidate may being speaking. The timer shall briefly sound a bell five minutes before the time allotted for a candidate's talk has expired, and shall sound the bell twice for a longer interval when the candidate's time has expired; the candidate must immediately finish speaking at this time and may not request more time for any reason. If a candidate fails to stop speaking, the moderator must immediately stop the broadcast.

If a power outage, equipment malfunction, or other temporary mishap occurs while a forum is taking place and causes a candidate's talk to be interrupted, that candidate's talk should continue once conditions have returned to normal, and the calculation of that candidate's time shall begin again.

Article 9

The television stations must not insert advertisements while broadcasting a policy forum.

Article 10

These guidelines shall go into effect as soon as they are promulgated.