Taiwan’s Ruling Party Candidate Lai Wins Presidency in Setback for Beijing

Vice President Lai Cheng-te’s election indicates Taiwan is set to continue its hard-on-China policies in the face of growing aggression from CCP.

Confetti flies over the stage and crowd as Taiwan's vice president and president-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, Taiwan, on Jan. 13, 2024. Annabelle Chih/Getty Images

TAIPEI, Taiwan—The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has secured the presidency for another four years, a result that means Taiwan and the United States will likely continue to work closely as partners in the face of challenges from the regime in communist China.

The DPP presidential candidate, current Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, secured more than 5.5 million votes, or about 40 percent of the ballot, defeating two other candidates. His victory means that his running mate, Hsiao Bi-khim, who stepped down as Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the United States in November, will serve as vice president.