Taiwan’s national elections on January 13 led to a clear victory for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)’s presidential candidate, Lai Ching-te, but a split legislature. According to Doublethink Lab, Taiwan was the target of frequent information operations that likely stemmed from China in the lead-up to the election. Particularly, Chinese state actors amplified stories that … Read more
Since Taiwan’s first democratic presidential election in 1996, national elections have centered on national identity and the island’s future relationship with China. At present, however, the majority of Taiwan’s population largely identifies as Taiwanese, contrasting sharply with less than 3 percent identifying as Chinese only. This shift in identity, among other factors such as China’s … Read more
It’s been a month since Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won Taiwan’s presidential election. Since then, there have been a number of cross-strait developments – even though much of that time was taken up by the Lunar New Year, one of the most significant holidays for Taiwan and China. China was, unsurprisingly, … Read more
Despite losing Taiwan’s presidency for the third consecutive election, the Kuomintang (KMT) has reason to celebrate – the KMT scored a plurality in the Legislative Yuan thanks to a new cohort of young, up-and-coming politicians. The KMT has long been a Taiwanese political synonym for gerontocracy, but any long-time Taiwanese politics watcher will note that … Read more
Magazine Taiwanese voters have made their choice. Now it’s up to President-elect Lai Ching-te – and the reactions from Washington and Beijing – to shape the future. Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, left, celebrates his victory with running mate Bi-khim Hsiao in Taipei, Taiwan, Jan. 13, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Louise … Read more
On January 13, the world watched closely as Taiwan went to the polls to elect its new president. The victory of Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, of the incumbent Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) suggests a degree of continuity in the island’s foreign policy postures towards its neighbors and traditional partners. Despite Lai’s victory, … Read more
The Diplomat author Mercy Kuo regularly engages subject-matter experts, policy practitioners and strategic thinkers across the globe for their diverse insights into U.S. Asia policy. This conversation with Dr. Dominic Meng-Hsuan Ya, an associate professor in the Department of History, University of Missouri-Columbia, is the 398th in “The Trans-Pacific View Insight Series.” What is the impact of Taiwan’s presidential … Read more
The Taiwanese people have spoken: the long-time Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) politician, Lai Ching-Te, will be the next president and possibly sustain and improve upon his predecessor’s efforts to stand up for the island nation’s interests. Unprecedentedly, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. publicly congratulated President-elect Lai in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that he looks … Read more
The world was watching the events in the run-up to Taiwan’s elections with some trepidation. This anxiety has not subsided following the announcement of the election results on January 13, as peace and security in the Taiwan strait remain as uncertain as ever. Prior to the elections, China made it absolutely clear that it did … Read more
Taiwan held its much-anticipated elections on January 13. The DPP’s Lai Ching-te won the presidential race, with 40 percent of the vote. However, the DPP lost its legislative majority, presaging a tough road ahead for the future Lai administration. Meanwhile, the KMT also failed to win an outright majority in the legislative race, meaning a … Read more