William Lai, Taiwan's vice president who supports distancing himself from Beijing, won the island's presidency. The choice could further chill relations between Taipei and Beijing, which has already issued a veiled threat: "'Taiwan's independence' is incompatible with peace and is contrary to the interests and interests of the islanders."
Taiwan: Voting in dramatic presidential election | Reuters
Lai, who heads the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), reportedly won more than five million votes. The other two candidates have already conceded defeat.
William Lai points out. China has already issued warnings, Photo: AFP
Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Ministry issued a statement, expressing hope that "the majority of our people in Taiwan will recognize the 'extreme damage' of the DPP-led Independence Line."
Hu Yuyi (second from left) and his team concede defeat and bow to their supporters, Photo: AFP
Lai was challenged by Hu Yuyi of KMT, who supports rapprochement with Beijing, and Ku Vozha, who heads the Taiwanese People's Assembly (TPP) and said he would continue President Tsai's current policies but also seek dialogue with China. Elections are also being held for the 113-seat yuan (yuan), the island's <>-seat parliament.
A polling station worker records the vote count, Photo: GettyImages
The parties' recent announcements sharpened the messages each wanted to convey. A Democratic Progressive Party ad shows President Tsai Ying-wen, who is not eligible to run for a third term, driving a car and handing the steering wheel to William Lai. Another ad shows people walking backwards. According to the BBC report in Taipei, the DPP wants to point out continuity and warn against canceling gains if competitors come to power.
KMT supporters gather waiting for the results, Photo: AP
KMT tried to convince voters that the choice was between war and peace. The party ad incorporated war footage against a backdrop of a landscape of the island, with candidate Hu standing above as the hero who would save the island from collision with China. The People's Party announcement called for "removing the blue and green" (KMT and DPP colors) and choosing the third way.
Supporters of the People's Party are alert. Suggested a third way, Photo: GettyImages
Brief historical background: Taiwan was founded as an independent entity in 1949, after the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lost the civil war to Mao Zedong's communists and fled to the island. Since then, only 12 countries have recognized Taiwan as an independent state, but Taipei — which makes 90 percent of the world's chips — has extensive economic ties and U.S. military defense. Kuomintang ruled the island with an iron fist for 40 years. After the abolition of military rule, the first presidential elections were held in 1996, won by a KMT candidate. Since then, only KMT and DPP representatives have won the position, and according to the samples, this does not appear to change this time.
Counting votes on TV monitors, Taipei, photo: GettyImages
The current race for Taiwan's presidency took place against the backdrop of China's growing demands to regain control of the island in particular and the tension between it and the United States in general, and at the same time against the background of the strengthening of independent identity among Taiwanese residents. A survey conducted by the National Chengchi University for three decades reveals a steady rise in the proportion of residents defining their identity as Taiwanese: from 20% in 1994 to 63% last year. In contrast, the percentage of those defining themselves as both Chinese and Taiwanese dropped from 45% to 31%. In contrast, the percentage of those defining themselves as exclusively Chinese dropped from 26% to only 3%.
DPP supporters. Taiwanese identity on the rise, photo: Reuters
The findings may also serve as a warning sign to Beijing, which, as noted, considers the island to be Chinese territory and aspires to include it, if necessary, by force. According to the United States, Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered the military to develop means to invade Taiwan in 2027. In his Dec. 31 speech, President Xi said that "unification with Taiwan is a historic necessity." Beijing also considers DPP candidate William Lai a "peacemaker," especially since he has already made it clear that "Taiwan has no need for a declaration of independence because the island is sovereign anyway," and under his party's rule, Taiwanese investment in security has increased and military service has been extended.
Outgoing President Tsai Ying-wen votes at a polling station in New Taipei, Photo: AFP
Taiwanese media in particular and Far Eastern media reported extensively on disinformation and the spread of fakes by China during the race in order to tip the scales in favor of KMT. Logic? While it is the historic enemy of the Communist Party and the founder of Taiwan, KMT is committed to the one-China vision and is ready for dialogue, unlike the DPP. However, even KMT's candidate doesn't quite live up to Beijing's expectations: according to an editorial in The Economist, "Hu opposes the island's independence, but so does China's proposal for 'one country, two systems.' Most Taiwanese reject the model that fails to protect Hong Kong's freedoms." China, however, rejected the allegations of election interference.
US President Biden and Chinese President Xi in San Francisco, last November, Photo: Reuters
What about the United States? Washington is not interested in escalating its already tense relations with Beijing and therefore does not support any candidate. In closed talks, the administration fears that a Lai victory could upset China. It is believed that China will not launch a full-scale invasion for fear of being dragged into war with the US, but a naval blockade and large-scale military exercises – such as after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit in 2022 – are certainly out of the question.
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