1 of 1 Lai Chingte, Presidentelect of Taiwan Photo: Ann Wang/Portal Lai Chingte, Presidentelect of Taiwan Photo: Ann Wang/Portal
Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (PDP), which opposes the island's unification with China, won the presidential election this Saturday (13). Lai Chingte, the current vice president, emerged victorious in an election that China defined as a choice between war and peace.
In his first speech after his victory, Lai said he was determined to “protect Taiwan from China's threats and intimidation” and claimed that “the Taiwanese people successfully resisted the efforts of external forces seeking to influence the election.”
Lai also said he would use dialogue rather than confrontation and that he was willing to talk to China “on the basis of dignity and equality.”
The candidate of the main opposition Kuomintang Party (KMT), Hou Yuih, admitted defeat in the elections. The KMT is not a party allied with China, but was the Chinese government's favorite in this election because it views Taiwan and China as a single country.
The PDP, which confirmed its favoritism and emerged victorious, wants to put an end once and for all to any claim to unification with China. The PDP has ruled Taiwan since 2016. In the last election in 2020, the party elected Tsai Ingwe as president and Lai Chingte as vice president.
In the runup to the election, China repeatedly denounced Lai as a dangerous separatist and rejected his calls for dialogue.
For China, it is a rebel province that remains part of its territory. For the Taiwanese government, the island is an independent state governed by its own constitution, and for decades it was considered the Chinese government in exile. This is because the current rulers of Taiwan were the enemies who were defeated in the 1940s by the communists who currently rule China.
Most countries in the world do not recognize Taiwan as a country
The outcome of the vote could worsen already notsogood relations between Taiwan and China and even accelerate Chinese invasion plans on the island.
Hours before the start of the vote, China expressed open threats against politicians who spoke in favor of Taiwan's independence: the Chinese government declared that it would take all measures to “crush” any independence plan and that this was incompatible with peace.