William Lai Ching-te, a member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), emerged victorious in Taiwan's presidential election, despite China's cautionary remarks against supporting him.
Lai, the current vice president, competed against Hou Yu-ih from the conservative Kuomintang (KMT) and former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je from the Taiwan People’s Party, which was established in 2019. According to partial results from the Central Elections Commission, Lai secured 40.2 percent of the votes cast.
The commission tally revealed that the results were counted from 98 percent of polling stations across the island. It was observed that Hou had trailed behind with 33.4 percent of the vote.
Hou accepted his loss on Saturday and extended his congratulations to Lai for his victory. He also expressed regret to KMT supporters for not being able to remove the DPP from power. Ko also accepted the outcome.
Taiwan's elections hold significant weight due to the contentious political status of the territory. Despite being de facto independent since the 1940s, China continues to assert its claim over the island and its outlying territories, leaving the possibility of using force to achieve its goals.
Prior to the elections, China strongly criticized Lai, labeling him as a potential source of division and instability in the region if he were to emerge victorious. They framed the elections as a pivotal decision between conflict and harmony.
Lai has consistently emphasized his dedication to peaceful resolutions and his willingness to engage with Beijing under certain conditions, all while strengthening the island's defenses.
Voters have also elected lawmakers to Taiwan's 113-seat legislature in elections that have garnered significant attention from China and the United States. President Tsai Ing-wen has held power for the past eight years with the DPP in control.
Approximately 19.5 million individuals who were 20 years old and above were eligible to participate in the voting process. It was anticipated that the voter turnout would be substantial, taking into account the data on public transportation.
Taiwanese citizens must travel back to their place of household registration, usually their hometown, in order to vote in person. As a result, the period leading up to elections is a bustling time for the rail service across the entire island. According to the Taiwan Railway Administration, ticket sales on Friday are expected to reach a record-breaking 758,000, surpassing all previous election periods.
Lai, the current vice president, competed against Hou Yu-ih from the conservative Kuomintang (KMT) and former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je from the Taiwan People’s Party, which was established in 2019. According to partial results from the Central Elections Commission, Lai secured 40.2 percent of the votes cast.
The commission tally revealed that the results were counted from 98 percent of polling stations across the island. It was observed that Hou had trailed behind with 33.4 percent of the vote.
Hou accepted his loss on Saturday and extended his congratulations to Lai for his victory. He also expressed regret to KMT supporters for not being able to remove the DPP from power. Ko also accepted the outcome.
Taiwan's elections hold significant weight due to the contentious political status of the territory. Despite being de facto independent since the 1940s, China continues to assert its claim over the island and its outlying territories, leaving the possibility of using force to achieve its goals.
Prior to the elections, China strongly criticized Lai, labeling him as a potential source of division and instability in the region if he were to emerge victorious. They framed the elections as a pivotal decision between conflict and harmony.
Lai has consistently emphasized his dedication to peaceful resolutions and his willingness to engage with Beijing under certain conditions, all while strengthening the island's defenses.
Voters have also elected lawmakers to Taiwan's 113-seat legislature in elections that have garnered significant attention from China and the United States. President Tsai Ing-wen has held power for the past eight years with the DPP in control.
Approximately 19.5 million individuals who were 20 years old and above were eligible to participate in the voting process. It was anticipated that the voter turnout would be substantial, taking into account the data on public transportation.
Taiwanese citizens must travel back to their place of household registration, usually their hometown, in order to vote in person. As a result, the period leading up to elections is a bustling time for the rail service across the entire island. According to the Taiwan Railway Administration, ticket sales on Friday are expected to reach a record-breaking 758,000, surpassing all previous election periods.
