Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive party won an unprecedented third term in office as presidential candidate Lai Ching-te declared victory in the island’s presidential vote on Saturday.
Lai won nearly 5.6 million votes, amassing just over 40%. Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party candidate Hou Yu-ih claimed 33.5% while the third candidate Ko Wen-je of the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) secured 26.5% votes.
It is the first time since Taiwan began holding free and direct presidential elections in 1996 that any party has held power beyond two four-year terms.
“This is a night that belongs to Taiwan. We managed to keep Taiwan on the map of the world,” Lai told thousands of jubilant supporters after his win.
“The election has shown the world the commitment of the Taiwanese people to democracy, which I hope China can understand,” he added.
China’s reaction
Lai Ching-te is believed to be China’s least preferred candidate. China had called the poll a choice between war and peace, calling on the Taiwanese people to make the “right choice”.
Soon after the poll results, China responded by saying “Taiwan is part of China”. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said: “whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change.”
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and Chinese Communist leaders have vowed to eventually achieve reunification.
Beijing had cut off all communication with Taiwan’s government after the DPP came to power in 2016 since the party refuses to call the country part of China.
Taiwan demographics
Taiwan is a self-ruled island nation of 23 million people. Of them, more than 19 million eligible voters headed to polls of Saturday to determine their country’s future.
Despite Beijing’s assertion that Taiwan is part of China, many young people of Taiwan are growing more assertive about their distinct identity.
As many as 62.8% of people identified as Taiwanese as of June 2023, while 30.5% said they were both Taiwanese and Chinese, and only 2.5% identified as Chinese, according to National Chengchi University’s Election Study Center.
World reaction to Taiwan elections
World leaders congratulated Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for winning a historic third presidential term.
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken was among the first to congratulate Lai on his victory. “We also congratulate the Taiwan people for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system and electoral process,” Blinken said in a statement.
UK Foreign Minister David Cameron offered his congratulations to Lai and said that the elections are “a testament to Taiwan’s vibrant democracy”. He urged China and Taiwan to continue working on efforts to “resolve differences peacefully through constructive dialogue”.
The European Union did not mention or directly congratulate Lai but issued a statement saying: “The European Union welcomes the elections held in Taiwan on 13 January, and congratulates all the voters who participated in this democratic exercise”. The EU stressed that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are key to regional and global security and prosperity.
Japan congratulated Taiwan for the “smooth implementation” of its presidential election, promising to “work toward further deepening cooperation and exchanges between Japan and Taiwan, based on its position to maintain working relationship on the non-governmental basis.” The country also expressed hope that the issue surrounding Taiwan will be resolved peacefully through dialogue.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow continued to view Taiwan as an integral part of China.
Biden stresses US ‘does not support independence’ for Taiwan
As world leaders congratulated Taiwan, United States President Biden warned that the U.S. will not endorse independence for the island.
“We do not support independence,” Biden said after being asked by reporters about his reaction to the elections as he was leaving the White House.
The Biden administration is expected to send an unofficial delegation, including former senior officials, to Taipei following the election in keeping with past practice.