Taiwan’s Vice President Lai Ching-te won the presidential election on Saturday, January 13, 2024, with 40% of the vote, defeating his rivals Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang (KMT) and Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), who received 33% and 26% respectively. Lai’s victory extends the eight-year rule of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which advocates for Taiwan’s sovereignty and democracy, and is seen as a challenge to China’s claim over the island.

China, which considers Taiwan as a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland by force if necessary, has reacted to the election result by saying that it will not change the “basic landscape and development trend of cross-strait relations” and that reunification is “inevitable”. China has also accused Lai of being a “separatist troublemaker” who seeks to undermine the “one-China principle” and the “1992 consensus”, which are the basis for dialogue and cooperation between the two sides.

Lai, who will take office for a four-year term starting May 20, has said that he will continue the foreign affairs and national defense policies of President Tsai Ing-wen, who was first elected in 2016 and is limited to two terms. Lai has also said that he hopes that China will “understand that only peace will benefit both sides of the strait” and that “global peace and stability depends on peace in the Taiwan Strait”. Lai, a former doctor and mayor of Tainan, has described himself as a “pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence” in the past, but has also pledged to maintain the status quo, which means neither declaring independence nor becoming part of China.

The election, which was held amid rising tensions and military activities in the Taiwan Strait, was seen as a choice between war and peace by some observers. The U.S., Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier, has congratulated Lai on his victory and reaffirmed its commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, which provide the legal basis for the U.S.-Taiwan partnership. The U.S. has also urged China to “engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected representatives” and to “refrain from any attempt to change the status quo by force”.

The election also reflected the domestic issues and concerns of Taiwan’s 23 million people, especially the younger generation, who are more supportive of the DPP and its pro-independence stance. The voters were influenced by factors such as the economy, which was estimated to have grown only 1.4% last year, the Covid-19 pandemic, which Taiwan has successfully contained, and the social movements in Hong Kong, which have highlighted the risks of China’s “one country, two systems” model.

The DPP, however, lost control of the legislature, which could limit Lai’s policy options and create more political gridlock. The KMT and the TPP, which both favor closer ties with Beijing, have argued that the DPP’s policies toward China are too confrontational and have harmed Taiwan’s interests and security. They have also criticized the DPP for its poor performance on economic and social issues, such as unemployment, housing costs, and income inequality.

The Taiwan election, which is one of the most sensitive issues between China and the U.S., has drawn global attention and reactions. The European Union, Japan, Australia, and other countries have also congratulated Lai and expressed their support for Taiwan’s democracy and stability. China, on the other hand, has warned other countries not to interfere in its internal affairs and to respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The election has also shown the resilience and vitality of Taiwan’s democracy, which is one of the strongest in Asia, and the will of its people to determine their own future.