Democracy continues to prevail in Taiwan after the presidential and legislative elections on Saturday saw the current vice president and the Democratic Progressive party (DPP) nominee William Lai Ching-te secure a third consecutive presidential term for the party.
Lai beat Kuomintang’s (KMT) Hou Yu-ih by more than 900,000 votes on Saturday, ensuring the DPP’s leadership over the country of almost 24 million for the next four years.
For the past eight years, the pro-sovereignty party has been led by the country’s first ever female president, Tsai Ing-wen. Tsai promoted a Taiwanese identity separate to China, and garnered global admiration for her strong stance against China’s authoritarianism, increasing arms from the US and for her exemplary management of the country during the pandemic.
On Saturday night, her successor delivered his victory speech, describing his win as “victory for the community of democracies” around the world.
“Taiwanese people have the right to choose their own president,” Lai said. “We are telling the international community that between authoritarianism and democracy, we choose democracy.”
The president-elect, who has served as vice-president to Tsai Ing-wen since 2020, congratulated voters for resisting the “external forces” (ie. Beijing) in their attempts to influence the election and interfere with DPP’s efforts to keep Taiwan independent from China – which continues to claim Taiwan as its own territory.
“In the legislative election the DPP did not hold onto a majority,” Lai said. “This means that we did not work hard enough and there are areas where we must humbly review and look back on.”
“We are telling the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will stand on the side of democracy.”
“Taiwan will continue to walk alongside democracies around the world.”
During his campaign, the 64-year-old expressed his wish keep the status quo with China and said he was willing to talk to Beijing.
Over the weekend, he said he would not be “intimidated” by Beijing, but reiterated his plans to cooperate with China and maintain peace and stability with them.
“We are determined to safeguard Taiwan from continuing threats and intimidation from China,” he said.
Despite its win, the DPP lost control of its Legislative Yuan, the country’s 113-seat parliament. It won 51 seats while the KMT obtained 52 seats.
Lai announced plans to incorporate the policies of his opponents only if they benefited Taiwan and “bring benefit to the people.”
Lai’s running partner and vice-president-elect is Hsiao Bi-khim. Hsiao, who is mixed-race, has served as Taiwan’s envoy to the US since 2020, and famously describes herself as a “cat warrior” fighting against China’s “wolf-warrior” aggression.
Reaction from China
China’s Taiwan affairs office responded to Lai’s victory with a bleak message. The spokesperson, Chen Binhua, said the results would not stop “the general trend that the motherland will eventually and will inevitably be reunified,” adding that the DPP “cannot represent the mainstream public opinion on the island”.
“[The results] will not change the basic landscape and development trend of cross-Strait relations,” he said in a statement. “Taiwan is China’s Taiwan…our determination is as firm as rock. [Beijing] firmly oppose(s) the separatist activities aimed at ‘Taiwan independence’ as well as foreign interference”.
Shortly after, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded with its own statement, calling on the Beijing authorities “to respect the election results, face reality and give up suppressing Taiwan in order for positive cross-strait interactions to return to the right track.”
Reactions from world leaders
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai on his victory Saturday night, issuing a statement expressing his confidence “that Taiwan will continue to serve as an example for all who strive for freedom, democracy, and prosperity.”
“The United States congratulates Dr. Lai Ching-te on his victory in Taiwan’s presidential election,” the statement read. “We also congratulate the Taiwan people for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system and electoral process.”
“The United States is committed to maintaining cross-Strait peace and stability, and the peaceful resolution of differences, free from coercion and pressure. The partnership between the American people and the people on Taiwan, rooted in democratic values, continues to broaden and deepen across economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties.”
US President Joe Biden was less enthused about the results, saying on Saturday “We do not support independence…” when he was asked about the election. Washington continues to not have any formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Britain’s foreign minister David Cameron congratulated Lai’s win, releasing a statement calling the elections “a testament to Taiwan’s vibrant democracy.”
“I hope that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will renew efforts to resolve differences peacefully through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion,” he said.
Earlier this month, the DPP released an ad campaign featuring current president Tsai Ing-wen
in the driver’s seat of a car, accompanied by Lai Ching-te in the passenger seat next to her. The pair talk about their leadership styles over the past few years, praising each others’ “fierce” stance over national security, and “defending our democracy.”
At the end of the 4-minute video, the outgoing president hands the keys over to her successor, saying “You will undoubtedly drive better than me.”
Lai’s driving buddy sitting in the passenger seat for the remainder of the video is Hsiao Bi-khim, who tells her driver “Let’s take the road of democracy. Straight forwards towards democracy.”
On X, Tsai posted the video, saying “Good drivers keep their hands on the wheel & eyes on the road. These several years, we’ve driven through challenges, reforms, & the pandemic. We’ve made it this far down the road of democracy, no matter how winding & rough, thanks to the support of the #Taiwanese people.”
“Now, it’s time I hand the keys to @ChingteLai & @bikhim for the next part of the journey. I have no doubt they are capable & dependable drivers, & that they will make sure we stay on the right path.”
Tsai will end her term as president in May. President-elect Lai will be inaugurated on May 20th.