2024-01-13 15:16:17
The progressive Taiwanese candidate Lai Ching-te, 64 years old, identified by China as a “serious danger” for his positions in favor of Taiwan’s independence, won the presidential election held this Saturday (13), according to practically definitive official results. “A new chapter is opening in our democracy,” said the president-elect, despite persistent threats from Beijing, which claims sovereignty over the island.
Published on: 01/13/2024 – 14:16
3 min
“I want to thank the people of Taiwan for writing a new chapter in our democracy,” said Lai Ching-te, in his speech to celebrate the victory, because “we told the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will stand on the side of democracy ”, he stated. “Thanks to our actions, the Taiwanese people successfully resisted the efforts of external forces to influence these elections,” he told his supporters. “We are convinced that only the Taiwanese people have the right to choose their own president,” he emphasized.
A few minutes earlier, his main opponent, Hou Yuh-ih, from the Kuomintang party, who defended rapprochement with Beijing, admitted defeat in front of supporters.
“I respect the final decision of the Taiwanese people” and “I congratulate Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim (running mate) on their election, hoping that they do not disappoint the expectations of the Taiwanese people”, declared Hou Yuh-ih, in front of his sympathizers.
According to 98% of the polls counted, the elected president Lai Ching-te, of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who until then held the position of vice-president, obtained 40.2% of the votes. Opponent Hou Yuh-ih, 66, came second in the vote, with 33.4% of the vote. The third presidential candidate, Ko Wen-je, 64, from the small Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), who presented himself as anti-system, came in third place in the race, with 25.3% of the votes.
Taiwanese also voted to renew the 113 seats in Parliament, where the DPP could lose its majority.
During the count, poll workers at approximately 18,000 polling stations loudly proclaimed each vote cast in the ballot boxes. The count was open to the public.
Throughout the day, long queues formed in front of the polling stations. Thousands of Taiwanese living abroad returned to the island to vote as voting outside Taiwan was banned. In 2020, participation was close to 75% in this territory of 23 million inhabitants, located 180 kilometers from the Chinese coast and acclaimed as a model of democracy in Asia.
When voting, winner Lai Ching-te had asked voters “to show the vitality of Taiwanese democracy.” “We should all value our democracy and vote with enthusiasm,” declared the candidate at a school in the south of the island.
Opponent Hou Yu-ih said, in turn, he called for Taiwanese people to unite whatever the outcome of the election.
The future of part of Asia is at stake
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s interests in Taiwan go beyond the nationalist aspect of his expansionist policy. Several factors surround economic rivalry with the United States, as Taiwan produces 92% of the ultramodern semiconductors used by industry worldwide and geographically offers faster access for Chinese ships to reach the Pacific.
Throughout the week, Beijing increased diplomatic and military pressure on the autonomous territory. On Thursday (11), five Chinese balloons crossed the median line that separates Taiwan from mainland China, according to the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense, which also spotted ten planes and six warships in the area. Last year, China made 1,800 military attacks around the island.
This Saturday, AFP journalists observed a Chinese fighter plane over the city of Pingtan, the closest to Taiwan. On the Chinese social network Weibo, the hashtag “Elections in Taiwan” was blocked in the morning. Beijing appealed to voters to make “the right choice” and the Chinese army promised to “crush” any desire for “independence” among the Taiwanese. However, the threats did not appear to have intimidated voters, who voted throughout the day without major incidents.
With AFP
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