President-elect Lai makes history in Taiwan

2024-01-15 15:17:05, Kosova & Bota CNA

Voters in Taiwan elected their new president over the weekend. Vice President Lai Ching-te says he will maintain the 'status-quo' and commit to dialogue with China. According to Voice of America correspondent Elizabeth Lee, the election result has provoked reactions.

Celebration of historic victory in Taiwan.

"We're seeing the Democratic Progressive Party win an unprecedented third presidential term," says Franklin and Marshall College Professor Wei-Ting Yen.

The next president of Taiwan will be Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party.

"I'm extremely happy," says a PDP supporter, Tiffany Lin.

"I'm happy but also a little disappointed," says another PDP supporter, George Chang.

This supporter is disappointed because the Democratic Progressive Party has lost its majority in the Assembly. Incoming President Lai says he aims to build consensus between the parties. The candidate of the opposition party Koumintang Hou Yu-ih concluded his speech with these words:

"We must be united. We want a united Taiwan,” says presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih.

Although some supporters of the party fear war with China, PDP supporters say Taiwan's current president has strengthened the island's defenses over the past four years by strengthening ties with like-minded allies.

Many PDP supporters in Taiwan hope that the new president, Lai, will continue the policy of keeping Taiwan on the world stage.

US President Joe Biden says he does not support Taiwan independence.

"We do not support independence," declared President Biden.

Leaders of the House Foreign Policy Committee said in a statement: "We condemn Beijing's efforts to influence the election through disinformation and military pressure, and commend the people of Taiwan for upholding democratic ideals."

"Taiwan does not need to be independent again. Taiwan is now a country. We have our own government,” says PDP supporter Chang.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying wrote on the X platform that the Taiwan issue is China's internal matter. No matter what changes take place in Taiwan, the essential fact is that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan as part of China does not change. The "one China" principle is the main pillar of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

"... Instead of obstacles, we will use exchanges, dialogue will replace clashes, and we will confidently seek exchanges and cooperation with China," says President-elect Lai.

But newly elected President Lai says his government will protect Taiwan from China's threat.

Beyond the China issue, this election also revealed something else:

"Having also held a pair of successful democratic elections and as the only democracy in a Chinese country, I think Taiwan deserves attention on this issue," says governance expert Wei-Ting Yen.

In May, President-elect Lai will be inaugurated as the next president of Taiwan./ VOA