Vice President and independence advocate Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, has won Taiwan’s presidential election despite warnings from China. Both rivals admitted defeat during the count on Saturday.
The 64-year-old politician from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) received 40.2 percent of the votes, the electoral commission announced on Saturday. His opponent, Hou Yu-ih, of the pro-China Kuomintang (KMT), received 33.4 percent and conceded defeat.
For China, Lai is a separatist
The outcome of the simultaneous parliamentary elections was initially uncertain. It is important for the further development of the complicated relationship with China, which regards democratically governed and industrially developed Taiwan as a renegade province. Before the vote, the Beijing government described Lai as a dangerous separatist.
Lai, 64, explained in his first statement that they had shown the world how much they loved democracy. The people of Taiwan have successfully resisted outside influences.
Winner wants to strengthen the army
Lai has spoken out in favor of maintaining peace, continuing previous policies and strengthening the military. The fate of the island of about 23.5 million inhabitants is of great importance to the global economy because of its role in the semiconductor industry. The world’s largest contract chip manufacturer TSMC is based there.
The 19.5 million voters were also called upon to elect a new parliament. This includes 113 seats. The majority of MPs are directly elected, while the smaller number of seats are determined by party votes. A simple majority is sufficient for both the direct election of representatives and for the president. The new president will take office on May 20.
Pulverfass Taiwan
The status of Taiwan is one of the main points of conflict between the US and China. Although the island has been self-governing since 1949, only a few states recognize the island as independent. Austria also does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
At the time, Mao Zedong’s communists defeated the nationalist Kuomintang under Chiang Kai-shek in the Chinese Civil War, who then retreated to the island and initially ruled there in an authoritarian manner. The US also broke off formal relations in favor of China in 1979. However, they support the country with military equipment.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
