Taiwan voters rebuff China, ruling party gets 3rd presidential term; Lai Ching-te becomes new president-elect

Jan 14, 2024

Marking the historic victory, Taiwan’s ruling party Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the presidential elections for the straight third term. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Lai Ching-te won the presidential elections with over 40 pc votes on January 13. Taiwanese voters elected Lai Ching-te into power amid escalating tensions with China and strongly rejected Chinese pressure on Taiwan. Taiwan’s election also took place at a time of growing geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Washington. Lai Ching-te’s win is seen as a rebuff to China, which said it would not give up its goals of “reunification”. After presidential candidate Lai Ching-te was voted to power, jubilant celebrations gripped Taiwan's capital Taipei with cheering supporters. While addressing the celebration event, Lai Ching-te said, he is “determined to safeguard Taiwan from threats and intimidation from China”. Earlier, China denounced Lai as a dangerous separatist and rebuffed Lai's call for talks, and called on Taiwanese people to make right choice. Taiwan’s two times president Tsai Ing-wen was constitutionally barred from standing again after two terms in office. The US congratulated Taiwanese President-elect Lai Ching-te on his victory vowing to cooperate and work closely with the island nation