Taiwan ruling party’s William Lai wins presidential election after voters dismiss China

Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te has been elected president but the party has lost its control of parliament. Changes to the death penalty and policies to boost birth rates were on the agenda as an eligible 19.5 million people participated in the polls.

Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, emerged victorious in Taiwan's presidential election. Source: AP / Louise Delmotte

Key Points

• Vice President Lai Ching-te secured a third term for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
• He faced two challengers to the presidency, Hou Yu-ih and Ko Wen-je.
• Youths aged between 20 (Taiwan’s legal voting age) and 34 make up about one-fifth of the island’s population and was an influential group in the polls.

Taiwanese voters have swept the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's presidential candidate Lai Ching-te into power, rejecting Chinese pressure to spurn him as China says it will not give up on achieving "reunification".

Lai's party, which champions Taiwan's separate identity and rejects China's territorial claims, was seeking a third successive four year term - unprecedented under Taiwan's current electoral system.

However, in a measure of public frustration at domestic issues like the high cost of housing and stagnating wages after eight years in power, the DPP lost its majority in parliament, making Lai's job harder in passing legislation.

The result in Taiwan’s presidential and parliamentary election will chart the trajectory of relations with China over the next four years. Source: AP / ChiangYing-ying

Lai also only won 40 per cent of the vote in Taiwan's first-past-the-post system, unlike current President Tsai Ing-wen who was re-elected by a landslide four years ago with more than 50 per cent of the vote.

The elections were framed by China as a choice between war and peace as it ramps up pressure for the island to accept its sovereignty.

Taiwan has been a democratic success story since holding its first direct presidential election in 1996, the culmination of decades of struggle against authoritarian rule and martial law.

DPP, which champions Taiwan's separate identity and rejects China's territorial claims, sought a third term in office with Lai as its candidate.

Still, Lai lauded his victory.

"We've written a new page for Taiwan's history of democracy," Lai, long the frontrunner in the polls, told reporters after both his opponents conceded defeat.

Lai said he would maintain the status quo in cross-strait relations but that he was "determined to safeguard Taiwan from threats and intimidation from China".

At the same time, he emphasised the need for co-operation and dialogue with China on an equal basis to "replace confrontation" although he did not give specifics.

China's response to Lai's victory

In the run-up to the election, China denounced Lai as a dangerous separatist and called on the people of Taiwan to make the right choice while noting the "extreme harm of the DPP's 'Taiwan independence' line".

China's Taiwan Affairs Office struck a gentler tone in its response to Lai's election and did not mention him by name, saying that the results reveal that the DPP "cannot represent the mainstream public opinion" on Taiwan.

The Taiwan legislature is composed of 113 seats - 73 seats based on geographic constituencies, 34 seats based on party lists, and six seats reserved for Indigenous representatives who all serve a four-year term. Source: SBS News

"Our stance on resolving the Taiwan question and realising national reunification remains consistent, and our determination is as firm as rock," it said.

However, it added China will work with "relevant political parties, groups and people" from Taiwan to boost exchanges and co-operation, and "advance the peaceful development of cross-strait relations as well as the cause of national reunification".

Voters returned to Taiwan for 'important' job

Melbourne-based voter Harry Hsu was among the thousands that chose to return to Taiwan to cast his ballot.

He voted for the first time after he was unable to travel and participate in the 2020 elections due to pandemic restrictions and told SBS News he takes the vote very seriously.

"Voting in Australia is mandatory, but in Taiwan, you can choose if you want to vote or not. As a Taiwanese I think this is the opportunity for you to actually speak out, and try to choose the people who will represent the country for the next four years," he said.

"That's super important - so that's why I came back."

First-time voter Harry Hsu says he wants his vote to count. Source: SBS News / Aaron Fernandes

Meanwhile, in the days leading up to the election, China repeatedly denounced Lai as a dangerous separatist and rebuffed his repeated calls for talks.

Lai said he is committed to preserving peace across the Taiwan Strait, and keep boosting the island's defences.

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Saturday it had spotted Chinese balloons crossing the sensitive Taiwan Strait again, with one of them flying over Taiwan.

The ministry has denounced the recent spate of balloons reported over the Strait in the past month as psychological warfare and a threat to aviation safety.

A three-way race

Lai faced two opponents for the presidency — Hou Yu-ih of Taiwan's largest opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT), and former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je of the small Taiwan People's Party (TPP), founded in 2019.

Hou pledged to both oppose Taiwan's independence and to restart dialogue with China, but said he is committed to boosting the island's defences.

Lai said Hou is pro-Beijing, allegations which Hou rejects.

Ko had a passionate support base, especially among young voters, for focusing on bread-and-butter issues such as the high cost of housing.

He also wanted to re-engage China but insists that cannot come at the expense of protecting Taiwan's democracy and way of life.

Following the election defeat, Ko appeared open to working with Lai.

"The TPP will play the role of a critical minority, without fixing who we collaborate with," Ko told reporters after conceding.

"We'll look at the issues. Whoever speaks reasonably, we will support."

Young voters backed 'honest' alternative in high stakes polls

Many young voters threw their support behind Ko's TPP because he provides an alternative vision to the traditional two major parties.

Lee Jia Yu, a 20-year-old psychology student, said she supported his childcare policies and hopes it will boost Taiwan's dwindling birth rate.

"He has policies about giving more compensation for newborn babies for mothers. More support including public care," Lee, another first-time voter, told SBS News.

Siblings Lee Jia Hao and Lee Jia Yu (left and centre), are young voters who have chosen to back TPP candidate Ko Wen-je, an alternative to the usual two-party race. Source: SBS News / Aaron Fernandes

"I think that will encourage more young people to have children".

She also highlighted that Ko was "very honest" about his spending, leading to a perception that he would be more transparent about "where our taxes are spent".

Her brother, Lee Jia Hoa, who is studying to join Taiwan's public service said Ko had impressed young voters by "fluently" answering a variety of questions when visiting campuses.

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“The main issue I’m concerned about is the death penalty. I support Ko Wen-Je policy that we could alter the death penalty into life imprisonment instead," the 24-year-old said.

The parliamentary elections are equally important, especially if neither of the three parties are able to get a majority which might stymie the new president's ability to pass legislation and spending, especially for defence.

President Tsai Ing-wen is constitutionally barred from standing again after two terms in office.

- with additional reporting by Aaron Fernandes and Ewa Staszewska.