Taiwan’s Vice President Lai Ching-toku, who leads the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, declared victory in Saturday’s presidential election and vowed to protect the autonomous island from the growing threat posed by mainland China.
Lai’s victory means that the Democratic Progressive Party has secured a third consecutive four-year term in this election campaign, which has attracted worldwide attention amid China’s continued pressure on Taiwan, and direct leadership voting was introduced in 1996. Since then, it has achieved unprecedented success during this period.
According to the Election Commission, the turnout was 71.9%. According to the final results announced by the committee, Mr. Lai secured 40.1% of the vote, while Mr. Hou Yu of the main opposition party, the Kuomintang Party, received 33.5%. Ko Wen-ji of the Taiwan People’s Party, the second largest opposition party, won 26.5% of the vote.
Taiwan Vice President Kiyotoku Lai, leader of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, declares victory in the presidential election while waving his hands at a press conference in Taipei on January 13, 2024 (Kyodo News) ==Kyodo News
“As president of the country, I have an important responsibility to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” Lai, 64, told supporters in Taipei. “We are also determined to protect Taiwan from continued threats and intimidation from China.”
Communist-led China aims to take the island into its territory, by force if necessary, and has accused Lai of being an independence supporter and a “troublemaker.” The two countries were divided in 1949 due to civil war and have been ruled separately since then.
China said late on Saturday that Lai’s victory would not stop the “inevitable trend” towards unification of the mainland and Taiwan.
“Our position on resolving the Taiwan issue and realizing national reunification is consistent, and our resolve is rock-solid,” Chen Bin-hua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a statement carried by the state-run Xinhua News Agency. said.
Lai also noted that the Taiwanese people have successfully resisted election interference by external forces, namely China, and said Taiwan “stands on the side of democracy.” “We believe that only the Taiwanese people have the right to choose their own president,” he said.
The vice president, who will take office on May 20, has vowed to inherit President Tsai Ing-wen’s foreign and defense policies, and will work toward peace with China, which has avoided talks with the Democratic Progressive Party government since Tsai took office in 2016. I called on them to do so. It will benefit both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
“Based on the principles of dignity and equality, we will confidently pursue exchanges and cooperation with China, using exchanges instead of obstructionism and dialogue instead of confrontation,” Lai said.
At a rally in New Taipei, the 66-year-old Hou apologized to his supporters for failing to bring about a change of government, saying, “I let you all down…I’m sorry to everyone.”
On January 13, 2024, in front of supporters in New Taipei City, Hou Youxi (center) of the main opposition Kuomintang Party admits defeat in Taiwan’s presidential election (Kyodo News) ==Kyodo News
Mr. Ke, 64, a former mayor of Taipei, also acknowledged defeat and thanked his supporters for showing the world that Taiwan has its own party, not just the two major parties of the Democratic Progressive Party and the Kuomintang.
“Most importantly, we have proven to the world that democracy has always been Taiwan’s most important asset,” Mr. Ke said in New Taipei.
All three candidates advocate maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait if elected, and do not seek independence for the island or unification with mainland China. Both Mr. Hou and Mr. Ke sought dialogue with the Chinese government during the campaign.
Japan congratulated Lai on his victory, and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said in a statement that Tokyo “will strive to further deepen cooperation and exchanges” with Taipei.
“I hope that the issues surrounding Taiwan will be resolved peacefully through dialogue and that this will contribute to peace and stability in the region,” he said.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also congratulated Lai and expressed the United States’ commitment to maintaining cross-Strait peace and stability and resolving differences peacefully, without coercion or pressure.
Taiwan People’s Party’s presidential candidate Ko Wen-ji votes at a polling station in Taipei on January 13, 2024 (Kyodo News) ==Kyodo News
“The partnership between the American people and the people of Taiwan, rooted in democratic values, continues to expand and deepen beyond economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties,” he said.
In the Legislative Council elections, in which 113 seats were contested, the Democratic Party was unable to maintain a majority, and its number of seats decreased from 62 to 51. Rai said the result “means that our efforts are not enough and we do not have enough seats.” This is an area where we need to humbly review and reflect. ”
According to the official election results, the National Party secured the largest number of seats at 52 seats, 15 more than last time, but it still falls short of a majority. The TPP is expected to gain eight seats, an increase of three seats, and maintain the balance of power.
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