The ruling party’s candidate, Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, wins the presidential election in Taiwan, the opposition concedes its victory while awaiting the final results.
Some 17 million voters (out of 23.5 million inhabitants) were called to the polls this Saturday in Taiwan to choose their new president and renew their parliament. In the background: the future relationship between the autonomous island and China which has never ceased to claim Taiwan as part of its fold and of which Beijing wishes to regain control, by force if necessary.
While Beijing strongly opposed to the race favorite in the presidential election, the current vice-president Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), it is the latter who seems to win. In more than 60% of polling stations he is credited with 41.6% of the votes.
Lai Ching-tei and outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen reject China’s claims of sovereignty over Taiwan, a former Japanese colony separated from the mainland amid civil war in 1949. They have, however, offered to speak with Beijing, which has repeatedly refused to hold talks and called them separatists.
Beijing would favor the candidate of the nationalist party most favorable to China, also known as the Kuomintang or KMT. Its candidate, Hou Yu-ih, also promised to relaunch negotiations with China) while strengthening national defense. He promised not to embark on the path of unifying the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. He would finish in second position with 33.2% of the votes according to partial results.
A third candidate in the running, Ko Wen-je, from the smallest Taiwan People’s Partyor TPP, has gained support especially from young people who want an alternative to the KMT and DPP, Taiwan’s traditional opposition parties.
who have largely taken turns since the 1990s. Ko Wen-je also said he wanted to talk with Beijing and that his ultimate goal would be for Taiwan to remain democratic and free.
The United States, which is required by its laws to supply Taiwan with the necessary weapons to defend themselves, pledged their support for the government that would emerge, reinforced by the Biden administration’s plan to send an unofficial delegation composed of former senior officials to the island shortly after the elections.
In addition to Chinese tensions, domestic issues such as the shortage of affordable housing and stagnant wages dominated the campaign.
The election results should be known today.