Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Lai Ching-de (also known as William) will vote during an election in the southern city of Tainan on Saturday.
Ng Hang-guan/AP
hide caption
toggle caption
Ng Hang-guan/AP
Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Lai Ching-de (also known as William) will vote during an election in the southern city of Tainan on Saturday.
Ng Hang-guan/AP
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Lai Ching-de of the Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party (Democratic Progressive Party) has been elected as Taiwan’s next president after a three-way election that will determine the autonomous region’s future stance toward China.
Since its founding in the 1980s as a coalition of underground anti-establishment organizations, the Democratic Progressive Party has now secured a third term in the Presidential Office, a first in Taiwan’s short democratic history.
This year’s election came after more than a month of intense campaigning by all three parties, with each party arguing that it was best to protect Taiwan from China while also improving the island’s economy.
Lai’s election is “a sign of tensions with China”
Analysts say the Democratic Progressive Party president’s victory foreshadows tensions with China, which has vowed to one day take control of Taiwan and has not ruled out a military invasion to do so. The Chinese government has repeatedly accused Lai of being a “separatist” and sanctioned his running mate, Bikim Xiao, in April last year.
In his victory speech, Lai said Taiwan was ready to dialogue with China “on the basis of dignity and equality,” but also said his administration was “determined” to protect Taiwan from Chinese threats and intimidation.
”[Beijing] “Instead of using a military approach, China will use more economic coercion, diplomatic coercion, more information warfare, and perhaps more tools in terms of trade as well.” Dongzhou University in Taipei said political scientist Fanyu Chen. I have to prepare. ”
Saturday’s voting closed at 4 p.m. Saturday, and the National Party conceded the presidential election just before 8 p.m.
Hou of the Kuomintang Party told the media, “I’m sorry for disappointing my supporters.I would like to apologize.” Ko Wen-ji of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) also admitted defeat.
Saturday’s presidential election was a close one, with Hou Yuxi of the Kuomintang Party receiving more than 3.9 million votes and the TPP receiving approximately 3.1 million votes. The Democratic Party received more than 5 million votes.
Taiwan does not allow absentee voting for security reasons and requires all voters to vote in person, only on paper. Physical ballots are then counted by hand at all polling places, a process that is completely public.
Supporters of Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Lai Ching-de (also known as William) attended a rally in Tainan, southern Taiwan, on Friday.
Ng Hang-guan/AP
hide caption
toggle caption
Ng Hang-guan/AP
Supporters of Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Lai Ching-de (also known as William) attended a rally in Tainan, southern Taiwan, on Friday.
Ng Hang-guan/AP
Taiwan’s elections are not just about relations with China.
The TPP’s rise in Taiwan’s traditional two-party system reflects voter fatigue with the corruption and ideological rigidity of both Taiwan’s more established parties, the Democratic Progressive Party and the Kuomintang, analysts say. points out.
Young voters in particular are flocking to the TPP, which promises to tackle rising housing prices and increase spending on health care and rent subsidies.
“Housing prices are crazy and the economy is depressed,” said Kevin Koh, 29, a project manager at a technology company in Taipei. “Our generation, the younger generation, between the ages of 25 and 30, [voting] Elections are common, but are Taiwan really getting better? ”
Ailsa Chang, Patrick Jarenwattananon, Jonaki Mehta, Hugo Peng and Mallory Yu contributed reporting from Taipei.