TAIPEI — Lai Ching-te, the ruling-party candidate, emerged victorious in Taiwan’s presidential election after a tight three-way race. His opponents conceded after the ballots were cast at thousands of polling stations. The result of the election will have a significant impact on the trajectory of relations between Taiwan and China over the next four years. The 110-mile-wide strip of water between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan is a source of tension as China claims Taiwan as its own. China has called the election a choice between peace and war.
President Joe Biden made it clear that the United States does not support Taiwan’s independence, stating that “we do not support independence” when asked about his reaction to the elections. Lai Ching-te, who also goes by the name William Lai, is the vice president of Taiwan’s governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Both Lai and incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen reject China’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan. They have offered to hold talks with Beijing, which has continuously refused and labeled them as separatists. China strongly opposed Lai’s election.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai on his election win and praised the strength of Taiwan’s democratic system and electoral process. He emphasized the United States’ commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and highlighted the broadening partnership between the American people and the people of Taiwan.
Beijing is believed to have favored the candidate from the more China-friendly Nationalist Party, also known as Kuomintang (KMT). The other leading candidate was Ko Wen-je of the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), who drew support from young people wanting an alternative to the traditional parties. The election was seen as significant, with potential implications for the geopolitical landscape and ties with China relative to the West.
The domestic issues of affordable housing and stagnating wages dominated the campaign, along with concerns about China’s influence. Taiwanese voters expressed their desire to maintain their democratic values and freedoms and their opposition to a Chinese takeover of the country. Taiwan’s election is seen as having a lasting influence on the state of play in the South China Sea.
The election in Taiwan has concluded, with Lai Ching-te winning the presidency. This outcome will have significant implications for the region’s stability and the relationship between Taiwan and China. The United States has reaffirmed its support for cross-Strait peace and stability and the partnership between the American people and the people of Taiwan.