Taiwan’s next president, Lai Ching-toku, vowed on Saturday to stand “on the side of democracy” and protect the autonomous island from “intimidation” from China. He has been labeled a threat to peace in the flashpoint region.
Lai won an unprecedented third consecutive term in the Democratic Progressive Party (DP) after a tumultuous campaign in which he claimed to be a champion of Taiwan’s democratic way of life.
Communist China claims democratic Taiwan, which is separated from the mainland by a 180-kilometre strait, as its own territory, seeking to achieve “unification” even if conflict does not appear imminent. He said he would not rule out the use of force.
The Chinese government has previously denounced current Vice President Lai as a dangerous “separatist,” and on the eve of the vote, the Ministry of Defense vowed to “crush” any movement toward Taiwan’s independence.
After his two opponents conceded defeat, Lai addressed his supporters and thanked the Taiwanese people for “carving a new chapter in democracy.”
“We are telling the international community that we stand on the side of democracy between democracy and authoritarianism,” he said, indicating that he would also strive for exchanges with China.
“I will act in a balanced manner and maintain the status quo on both sides,” he said.
But he also vowed to “defend Taiwan from continued threats and intimidation from China.”
~3rd term~
Ahead of Saturday’s polls, authorities have repeatedly warned voters about interference from China, pointing to paid travel to the mainland and pointing to instances of disinformation that painted Lai negatively.
After his victory, Lai said the island had “successfully resisted the efforts of outside forces to influence this election.”
The victory extends the Democratic Progressive Party’s eight-year rule under outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen, who has served a maximum of two four-year terms.
However, in the parliamentary elections held at the same time as the presidential vote, the Democratic Progressive Party lost its majority in the 113-member parliament.
According to official data from Taiwan’s Central Election Commission, Lai won 40.1% of the votes, with 99% of the votes counted at polling stations.
His main rival, Hou Yuxi of the opposition Kuomintang Party, came in second with 33.5%.
“When the people make a decision, we will face them and listen to them,” Prime Minister Hou told supporters.
Hou, a member of the Kuomintang Party, has advocated strengthening ties with China and accused the Democratic Progressive Party of making the Chinese government an enemy, arguing that Taiwan is “already independent.”
Ko Wen-je’s opposition proposal of a “third way” out of the two-party deadlock won 26.5% of the vote, a result that puts his Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) at the top of the world. He said it had become. “Major rebel group”.
“Mr. Ko Wen-Ji will not give up on making Taiwan a sustainable country, and I urge you, too, not to give up,” he told his supporters.
During the election period, the Kuomintang and TPP tried to reach an agreement to join forces against the Democratic Progressive Party, but this alliance collapsed due to public disagreement over who should take control of the presidential election.
The election was closely watched by both China and Washington, Taiwan’s main military partner, as the two superpowers vie for influence in the strategically important region.
～The threat of China～
Located at a key maritime gateway between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Taiwan is home to a semiconductor industry that produces precious microchips that are the lifeblood of the global economy and power everything from smartphones and cars to missiles. be.
China has increased military pressure on Taiwan in recent years, regularly raising concerns about a possible invasion.
In his recent New Year’s address, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the “unification” of Taiwan and China is “inevitable.”
Although the Chinese government has waged strong rhetoric for weeks about Taiwan’s vote, Chinese state media has given little coverage to domestic audiences, although state television’s 7 p.m. newscast, Xinwen Lianbo, makes no mention of the vote. I didn’t.
Chinese fighter jets and naval vessels probe Taiwan’s defenses on an almost daily basis, and the Chinese government has also held large-scale war games in recent years to simulate blockading the island and launching missiles into surrounding waters. There is.
On the eve of the vote, the Chinese military said it would “take all necessary measures to resolutely crush all forms of ‘Taiwan independence’ attempts.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with senior Chinese officials in Washington hours before the vote, stressing the importance of “maintaining peace and stability” across the Taiwan Strait.
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