Taiwan elects Lai Ching-te as president, sending a defiant message of democracy to China

TAIPEI, Taiwan, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Taiwan's Lai Ching-te, the presidential candidate from the incumbent Democratic Progressive Party, won a landslide victory on Saturday as the island of 23 million sent a powerful message to China in a high-stakes election with global consequences.

"We are telling the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will stand on the side of democracy," Lai said at a press conference for international media after results were announced on Saturday evening.

With the full count completed just hours after polls closed, Lai won 40.1% of the vote, while his main opponent, Hou You-ih of the traditionally Beijing-friendly Kuomintang party, had 33.5%. Third-party candidate Ko Wen-je of the upstart Taiwan People's Party surged to a strong showing of 26.5%.

Lai's victory marked the first time in Taiwan's brief democratic history that an incumbent party won a third consecutive term in office. The 64-year-old former doctor currently serves as vice president under outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen, and vowed to maintain the strong stance she has taken against Beijing.

Lai said Saturday he would pursue exchanges and cooperation with China, but only "under the principles of dignity and parity."

"At the same time, we are also determined to safeguard Taiwan from continuing threats and intimidation from China," he added.

Jubilant crowds of supporters thronged the streets outside the headquarters of the DPP as election results came in, many of them chanting Lai's name and waving pink and green flags, the colors identified with the party.

"I always believed [the DPP candidates] were going to win the election, because I know that they're doing the right thing for Taiwan," Roderick Tseng, a 34-year-old baker, said. "They're trying to push Taiwan more toward international recognition, and not just starting a conflict with China."

Supporter Chang Chih-ning, 52, said she was worried because of the three-way race and late polls that indicated challenger Hou was closing the gap with Lai.

"I was nervous and very tense with the three different candidates, so I got up early in the morning to cast my ballot for Mr. Lai," said Chang, who was joined at the rally by her daughter, a first-time voter clad all in green.

She said she was less concerned about how Beijing, which has repeatedly vowed to seize control of Taiwan, would react to the victory.

"China has been making similar threats [for a long time] and never followed through on them," Chang said. "So I'm not particularly worried."

Beijing criticized Lai as a dangerous "separatist" in the lead-up to the election and on Friday its Defense Ministry warned that it would "pulverize" any attempts at an independence movement in Taiwan.

Lai has said there is no need to pursue formal independence, claiming that Taiwan is already a "sovereign, independent country."

At a polling station on a narrow road of street smalls near Longshan Temple in Taipei, 70-year-old DPP voter Lin Wei-chieh praised Lai's stance.

"The correct position is that we are two separate countries," Lin said. "We're already independent. Naturally, there are things that [the DPP] could have done better, but the foundation starts with casting out the pro-China forces."

Lai's main opponent, Hou You-ih of the Kuomintang party, or KMT, has argued that better relations with China would benefit Taiwan's economy.

His campaign warned that a DPP victory would heighten the risk of war with its giant neighbor, a message that Beijing itself has echoed. His supporters also expressed that concern on Saturday.

"The DPP is making it more dangerous," Chuang Hsuan-gung, 68, said. "I am hoping there will be more communication with China."

Beijing has kept up a steady stream of incursions by fighter jets, naval ships and, more recently, large balloons in what Taipei calls "gray zone" warfare meant to strain the island's defense capabilities and wear down its morale.

The DPP and independent research groups have also accused China of meddling in Taiwan's elections by financing and coordinating online disinformation campaigns and amplifying divisive voices on social media platforms.

One goal of China's efforts is to increase polarization in Taiwan, Tim Niven, lead researcher at Taipei-based disinformation researcher Doublethink Lab, said.

"The goal is to degrade the enemy -- the DPP -- and devalue democracy," Niven told UPI. "If Taiwan is polarized, people can't talk to each other and make compromises."

While Lai won the presidency, his DPP did not secure a majority in the parliament thanks in large part to the presence of the upstart Taiwan People's Party.

Younger voters in particular were energized by the presidential campaign of former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je.

"I hope there will be a change in Taiwan's future," Chiu Yi-han, 38, said. "Taiwan has been governed by the same two parties for too long. The situation with China has been the same for a long time. I am looking for a breath of fresh air in the economy, in education."

Both Hou and Ko conceded early Saturday evening.

Doublethink Labs' Niven said that China's influence operations could next try to increase gridlock in the divided parliament, in an attempt to derail budget items such as defense spending.

Lai vowed on Saturday that he would attempt to work across the aisle and "build a political environment of communication, consultation, participation and cooperation."

The president-elect added, however, that the DPP's victory also sent a clear message to China.

"In the future, we hope that China will recognize the new situation and understand that only peace benefits both sides of the Strait," Lai said.

"Global peace and stability depends upon the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait," he said. "Therefore, we hope that China will understand the situation, because China also has a responsibility."