Taiwan has chosen to continue on the same path. The 19 million citizens voted to elect the ruling party's candidate and current vice president, Lai Ching-te, as president. The leader of the Democratic Progressive Party (PPD) is in the lead with 40% of the vote, according to official results counted from almost all voting centers. The nationalist formation Kuomintang (KMT), which tends to move closer to Beijing, is in second place with 33%, a larger gap than expected in the polls. It is the first time since the first democratic elections in 1996 that a party has won a mandate for the third time in a row.
The result sends a clear message to the other side of the Taiwan Strait and to the world: the self-governing island, which China claims as an inalienable part of its territory and which the United States supports militarily, will continue on the path pursued by Tsai Eight years ago, Ing – who, the current president. Tsai will step down from power after exceeding the legal limit of two terms in office, which was marked by a lack of communication with the People's Republic, growing tensions in the Strait and rapprochement with Washington. His successor will be Lai, 64 years old and a trained doctor, the least popular option in Beijing. Much more than an election on this island where superpowers clash, the event marked the start of a crucial year of global elections in which nearly half the population is called to vote – from India to the United States to the European Union- .
The next president, who will take office on May 20, has defined himself during the election campaign as a guarantor of “stability” and maintaining the current status quo in relations with the Asian giant. He has spoken of deepening the deterrence strategy so that armed conflict is unthinkable, while at the same time committing to seek dialogue with Beijing under conditions of “equality and dignity,” which will not be easy. “As president, I have an important responsibility for maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” he said in an appearance outside his party headquarters as the review was nearly complete. “At the same time, we are committed to protecting Taiwan from China’s ongoing threats and intimidation,” he added. Lai also sent a message to the international community: “Between democracy and authoritarianism, we will stand on the side of democracy.”
China, which views the island as a rebellious province that it wants to peacefully reunify without resorting to the use of force if necessary, has instead suggested that the PDP candidate is hiding a secessionist tendency that is “harming” and “harming” the people of Taiwan “endangered”. “Peace in the Strait.” The People's Republic's preferred option was the nationalist Kuomintang, a party that has traditionally enjoyed a friendlier relationship with the government in Beijing. The big question is what strategy the Asian giant will pursue from now on.
The candidate of the nationalist formation Kuomintang (KMT), which is leaning towards rapprochement with Beijing, Hou Yu-ih (in the middle), salutes after learning of the defeat. RITCHIE B. TONGO (EFE)
The day before the election, a spokesman for the People's Liberation Army (PLA, the Chinese army) criticized Taiwan's recent acquisition of American weapons, asserting that such purchases would only bring the island closer to a “cruel war.” “The People’s Liberation Army is on high alert at all times and will take all necessary measures to resolutely crush any form of secessionist plans for Taiwan’s independence.”
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Messages like this are nothing new. They were part of the campaign. And on the island you live with them. These days, the government has denounced China's interference through various means, from disinformation to military threats. But the day was completely normal in a young democracy that takes the process very seriously. Polling stations opened at eight in the morning and closed at four in the afternoon local time. Then the Taiwanese characteristics exam began, which was surprisingly transparent and efficient. It is open to the public and people come to polling stations to see it. Polling station members chant the ballots loudly and visibly raise each ballot with both hands. They write down the results with sticks, the old way. And finally they show the sheet with the results.
Lai Ching-te, Vice President of Taiwan, has won votes in the elections won this Saturday by his formation, the Democratic Progressive Party.ANN WANG (Portal)
“I wanted to bring my daughter to see it,” said Shao Kai-yang, a 45-year-old architect who stopped by the Dongmen First School, a stone's throw from the presidential palace in central Taipei. I wanted to show you that in different places there are different opinions and different results come out. But you have to respect it. He, who votes in another district, chose the PPD winner; In this college, however, victory goes to the nationalist Kuomintang, which will remain in opposition for a third term for the first time since 1996, when the island held its first democratic elections. Wang Ji-shun, an 81-year-old resident who has been a member of the KMT for “60 years,” still had hopes of victory after 5 p.m. He hoped for a change of government: “As far as cross-strait relations are concerned, the KMT is safer.”
But as the counting progressed, which took place very quickly on the semiconductor island, the gap grew and PPD supporters approached the party headquarters to celebrate the victory.
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