Posted on 01/13/2024 4:03:19 AM PST by AdmSmith
2024 Presidential and Vice Presidential Election 2024 Legislative Election
Taiwan’s voters rebuff China and give ruling party third presidential term
Taiwanese voters swept the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te into power on Saturday, strongly rejecting Chinese pressure to spurn him, as China said it would not give up on achieving “reunification”.
Lai’s party, which champions Taiwan’s separate identity and rejects China’s territorial claims, was seeking a third successive four year term, unprecedented under Taiwan’s current electoral system.
However, in a measure of public frustration at domestic issues like the high cost of housing and stagnating wages after eight years in power, the DPP lost its majority in parliament, making Lai’s job harder in passing legislation.
Lai said he would maintain the status quo in relations across the Taiwan Strait, but that he was “determined to safeguard Taiwan from threats and intimidation from China”.
Lai said he would cooperate with his electoral rivals, Hou Yu-ih of Taiwan’s largest opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT) and former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), in resolving the problems Taiwan faces.
Taiwan’s media reported the DPP won 51 seats to the KMT’s 52, while the TPP got eight.
Ko appeared open to working with Lai.
“The TPP will play the role of a critical minority, without fixing who we collaborate with,” Ko told reporters after conceding. “We’ll look at the issues. Whoever speaks reasonably, we will support.”
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