2024-01-13 12:52:46
The favorite of this Saturday’s Taiwanese presidential election, Lai Ching-te, considered by China as “a dangerous separatist” for his positions in favor of the island’s independence, This Saturday he led the partial results of the scrutiny, which gave him a comfortable advantage.
Lai Ching-te, member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and current vice president of Taiwan, added the 41.6% of the votes following the official counting of the ballots in more than 60% of the electoral centers. His main adversary, Hou Yu-ihcandidato de Kuomintang (KMT) who promoted a rapprochement with Beijing, followed him with 33.2% of votes.
These elections are held in the shadow of China’s threatswhich warned that electing the wrong leader might prepare the ground for a war, and the election is also closely followed by the United States, the island’s main supporter and supplier.
On the eve of the vote, Beijing urged Taiwanese to “make the right choice” if they want to avoid war and that’s when Beijing described Lai Ching-te as a dangerous “separatist.”
There were three candidates to succeed President Tsai Ing-wen, who reached the limit of two terms (2016-2024) marked by growing diplomatic, economic and military pressure from Beijing.
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In addition to Letof the Democratic Progressive Party (PPD) in power, the former police officer is running Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang (KMT), in favor of improving relations with Beijing, and Ko Wen-jeleader of the small People’s Party of Taiwan (PPT).
Taiwan and mainland China have been de facto separated since 1949, when Mao Zedong’s communist troops defeated the nationalist forces, who took refuge on the island and imposed an autocracy that mutated into democracy in the 1990s.
Communist China never stopped proclaiming its intention to “reunify” the country, by force if necessary. His army promised on Friday “smash” any attempt at “independence” of Taiwan, located just 180 km from its coasts.
In Washington, the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinkenmeeting with a leader of the Chinese Communist Party, urged Beijing to “maintain peace and stability” during the elections.
The status of Taiwan, where 23 million people liveis one of the thorniest issues in the rivalry between China and the United States, which compete for influence in this strategic region.
Victory but no majority?
In his rallies, Lai presented himself as the defender of the democratic lifestyle of Taiwan, which, from his PDP party, they already consider as a de facto independent state.
“Please go out and vote to demonstrate the vitality of Taiwan’s democracy,” he told reporters before voting in the southern city of Tainan.
“This is Taiwan’s hard-won democracy. We should all cherish our democracy and vote enthusiastically,” he added.
These sovereigntist positions of Lai and President Tsai are criticized by the Kuomintang opposition, which accuses them of opposing China.
Faced with these two parties that have alternated power since the beginning of Taiwanese democracy, the small PPT made its way as a “third way.”
In addition to choosing a president, the Taiwanese renew their Parliament.
Analysts suggest that Lai, 64, will win the presidential election, but that his party may lose its majority in the 113-seat House.
“I hope the next administration will do as well as the current one,” said a retiree surnamed Liu, 70, in New Taipei City.
– Strategic territory –
The elections appeared to spark interest on the Chinese social network Weibo, where the hashtag “Taiwan Elections” became one of the most popular, before being blocked mid-morning on Saturday.
The island is key to the world economy, both for its strategic position between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean and for its leading semiconductor industry, essential components in telephones, cars or missiles.
In recent years, China has increased military pressure on the territory, periodically launching large-scale maneuvers that raised fears of an eventual invasion.
It also intensified its diplomatic campaign to isolate Taiwan, now officially recognized by only 13 states following countries such as Honduras and Nicaragua broke relations with Taipei to establish them with Beijing.
In a recent year-end speech, President Xi Jinping assured that China “will certainly be reunified.”
AFP/HB
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