Taiwan Election Results Rattle China’s Leadership: Expert

Confetti flies over the stage and crowd as Taiwan's president and vice presidential-elect from the Democratic Progressive Party—Lai Ching-te (center L) and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim (center R)—speak to supporters at a rally at the party's headquarters in Taipei on Jan. 13, 2024. Annabelle Chih/Getty Images

Taiwan’s election results have caused a significant stir in Beijing, says Yuan Hongbing, a renowned Chinese dissident and philosopher living in exile in Australia, who asserts that the situation is a considerable blow to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping.

Mr. Yuan, also a former law professor at Peking University, has closely watched the China–Taiwan situation over the years and authored several works, including “Taiwan Disaster,” “Taiwan Grand State Strategy,” and “Taiwan: A Nation in Captivity.”

Xi’s Defeat

The CCP claims Taiwan as its own territory to be taken by force if necessary, and Xi has vowed to achieve the “reunification” of Taiwan, even though the CCP has never ruled the island.