Taiwan’s Pro-Democracy DPP Keeps Power in Result Likely to Irk China

Taipei (dpa/TNS) — Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Saturday retained power as its candidate Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, was elected to replace outgoing president Tsai Ing-Wen in a historic result likely to anger Beijing.

The DPP is the first political party to win three consecutive terms since the people of the democratic island country began to directly elect their president in 1996.

Lai, 64, made his announcement after the two leading opposition figures conceded defeat. His running mate is the 52-year-old Hsiao Bi-khim.

Lai garnered some 40% of the vote, while his main challenger, Hou Yu-ih of the main opposition, China-friendly conservative Kuomintang (KMT) party, came in second with 33.49%.

The third presidential challenger, former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) – a relative newcomer only founded in 2019 – won 26.46%.

In the legislative election also held on Saturday, the DPP failed to maintain its absolute majority, however, meaning it will now need the support of other camps.

The result is expected to irk Beijing due to the DPP’s resistance to Chinese rule.

In a first response, a spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said Saturday’s elections would not change the general trend towards “eventual reunification” with the mainland.

“The results of the two elections show that the Democratic Progressive Party is not in a position to represent the prevailing public opinion,” spokesman Chen Binhua said on Saturday evening.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), the top body responsible for China affairs, urged Beijing to fully respect the election results and rationally face the new post-election situation.

The MAC also called on China to communicate and seek dialogue with Taiwan without any preconditions to jointly create favorable conditions for regional peace and stability.

During the campaign, Lai reiterated that Taiwan should be integrated into the wider world community rather than be trapped by China.

Lai told a news conference on Saturday that the result showed the world that Taiwan chose to adhere to democracy.

“The Taiwanese people have successfully resisted efforts from external forces to influence this election,” Lai said. “Maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is an important mission of my presidency.”

On the premise of reciprocity and dignity, Lai said he would like to communicate with China.

“At the same time, we are also determined to safeguard Taiwan from continuing threats and intimidation from China,” Lai said.

“As for the new structure of the legislature, Taiwan must build a political environment of communication, consultation, participation and cooperation,” Lai said, vowing to carefully study the policies of his two electoral opponents.

Wu Rwei-ren, a political analyst from the Institute of Taiwan History at Taiwan’s Academia Sinica, said Lai will maintain Taiwan’s political and economic alliance with the US. “In this way, Taiwan will be more deeply integrated into the US camp,” Wu told dpa.

US President Joe Biden was asked about the election in Taiwan as he left the White House on Saturday to spend the weekend at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.

“We do not support independence,” he said.

The US State Department on Saturday congratulated Lai on his victory.

“We look forward to further strengthening our longstanding unofficial relationship and advancing shared interests and values, including maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” it said in a statement.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai, and also “the Taiwan people for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system and electoral process.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he will be asking the chairs of the relevant House committees to lead a delegation to Taipei following Lai’s inauguration in May.

Taiwan has had a separate government since 1949 and has developed into a vibrant modern democracy.

Beijing, however, considers the self-ruled island as its territory and has threatened to take it by force if it makes any formal moves towards independence.

In the run-up to the election, China made repeated threats to Taiwan and urged voters to “stand on the right side of history” and opt for China-friendly parties like the opposition KMT, also known as the Chinese Nationalists.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Republic of China.

Some observers fear a grand gesture to mark the milestone, now that Taiwan voters have rebuffed China by backing the pro-democracy ruling party for a third presidential term.

With reporting by wire services.