Page 3 - Taiwan Elections

US praises Taiwan's democracy after pro-independence candidate's victory

Retired US officials met with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday and praised the island's democratic process that produced a new president-elect and legislature over the weekend in defiance of China's claim of sovereignty over Taiwan and threat to annex it by military force. Taiwan's democracy has set a shining example for the world, a democratic success story based on transparency, the rule of law and respect for human rights and freedoms," former national security advisor Stephen Hadley said. America's commitment to Taiwan is rock solid," he said. Taiwan on Saturday elected current Vice President Lai Ching-te as the new head of government, a move likely to prompt China to maintain its military, diplomatic and economic threats against the island. Hadley was joined by former Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg, who affirmed bipartisan support for Taiwan based on our unofficial but warm relationship, our insistence on exclusively peaceful means to address the cross .

How Taiwan's election fits into the island's past, and its future

Voters chose as their next president Lai Ching-te, the current vice president, who has vowed to continue his party's policy of protecting the island's sovereignty

Nepal PM Dahal reiterates 'One China Policy' after recent Taiwan polls

PM Dahal also expressed his commitment not to allow activities that are against China's interests. The remarks of the Nepali PM came after the result of the Taiwan election held this week

Taiwan condemns 'fallacious' Chinese comments on election, awaits US visit

Taiwan on Sunday condemned what it said were fallacious comments by China following the self-governing island's presidential and parliamentary election the previous day. The verbal sparring did not bode well for the future of Taiwan's relations with China under the winner, President-elect Lai Ching-te, or for China's relations with the United States. The US said it has asked two former officials to go to Taiwan this week for post-election meetings with political leaders, a move that will likely displease China. Former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg will arrive in Taipei on Monday and have meetings on Tuesday, the American Institute in Taiwan said in a news release. The institute is the de-facto US Embassy, since the United States does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Lai's victory means the Democratic Progressive Party will continue to hold the presidency for a third four-year term, following eight year

Determined to safeguard Taiwan from China: President-elect Lai Ching-te

Addressing thousands of supporters at a rally after coasting to a win in the Presidential elections, Lai said Taiwan managed to stay on the world map through the conduct of the polls

Blinken meets Chinese, Japanese diplomats, seeks stability in Taiwan

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met a senior Chinese diplomat on Friday, as the Biden administration seeks to mitigate tensions over Taiwan as the island holds its presidential election. Blinken sat down with Liu Jianchao, the Chinese Communist Party's international minister. Hours later, he met with Yoko Kamikawa, the foreign minister of Japan, one of the United States' strongest allies in Asia. The Biden administration is seeking to keep down tensions in the Taiwan Strait if the governing Democratic Progressive Party, known to lean toward independence, should prevail in Saturday's election. Beijing, which considers Taiwan to be part of Chinese territory, has suggested to voters that they could be choosing between peace and war. The U.S. is not supporting any candidate in Taiwan's presidential election and plans to send an unofficial delegation to the island shortly after the election. In addition to Taiwan, Blinken and Kamikawa discussed the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East

Polling begins in Taiwan, over 19 mn voters to elect President, VP

The world is keenly watching Taiwan as its citizens prepare to vote for a new President and Parliament amidst escalating tensions with China

Taiwan expects China to apply pressure on incoming govt after election

Taiwan goes to the polls to elect a new president and parliament under the shadow of an increasingly assertive China which has called the vote a choice between "peace and war"

How 2024 Taiwan election result will impact China, US & the world

Taiwan's election shaped by economic realities, not China's threat: Report

Beijing's threats to use force to claim self-governed Taiwan aren't just about missiles and warships. Hard economic realities will be at play as voters head to the polls Saturday, though the relationship is complicated. The economy has slowed since the pandemic, with growth in 2023 estimated at only 1.4 per cent. That partly reflects inevitable ups and downs in demand for computer chips and other exports, and a slowing of the Chinese economy. But longer-term challenges such as inequality, housing affordability and unemployment are especially vital for younger voters, but often are eclipsed by China's looming presence. The two sides split in 1949 after a civil war and have no official relations but are linked by tens of billions of dollars in trade and investment. Beijing has been courting Taiwan investment, while at the same time flying fighter planes and sailing warships near the island to enforce its stance that the island must eventually unite with the mainland, by force if ...

US plans delegation to Taiwan to meet new leader amid China tensions

The Biden administration will send an unofficial delegation comprised of former senior officials to Taiwan shortly after the self-governed island holds an election for a new president this weekend, a move that could upset Beijing in an already-fragile bilateral relationship. A senior administration official confirmed the plan on Wednesday without offering more details but said such a face-to-face meeting was the most effective way to engage the new Taiwanese government and convey U.S. policy in the region. The official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive plans, said the administration believed the move would contribute to peace and stability in the region. Beijing claims Taiwan to be part of Chinese territory and vows to unify with it eventually. The Chinese have repeatedly warned Washington to stay out of Taiwan and oppose any official contact between the US and Taiwanese governments. In August 2022, Beijing reacted angrily by firing missiles and ...

China seen using threats, money and pressure to influence Taiwan elections

Using military threats, diplomatic pressure, fake news and financial inducements for politicians, China is being accused of deploying a broad strategy to influence voters in Taiwan's elections to pick candidates who favor unification. China's ultimate goal is to take control of the self-governing island democracy, whose high-tech economy supplies key components for computers, cellphones and other electronic devices and ships much of the world's goods out from the Taiwan Strait. Beijing has long insisted Taiwan is part of China and must be regained, by military force if necessary, regardless of the views of the island's people. Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu says China's global objective is that they want to use Taiwan as a test ground. If they are able to successfully shape the results of the Taiwan elections, they will try to apply their tactics on other countries. China has been sending warships and fighter jets near Taiwan on a near-daily basis in recent years, hoping to ..

How does a Taiwan election work? Everything you need to know about it

Taiwan's three main parties contesting the election are the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), only set up in 2019

Taiwan presidential candidate Lai says willing to reopen talks with China

Taiwan's leading presidential candidate William Lai said on Tuesday he hopes for a reopening of dialogue with China following almost eight years of Beijing's near-complete refusal to communicate with leaders of the self-governing island it considers its own territory. But Lai told reporters he would continue the current administration's policy of maintaining democratic Taiwan's de-facto independence in the face of Chinese Communist Party threats to annex it by political, military or economic means. China demands that Taiwan's leadership concede its claim of ownership over the island before reopening contacts. While aspiring for peace, we harbor no illusions, Lai said at a news conference ahead of Saturday's polls for the presidency and legislature. We will build up Taiwan's defense deterrence, strengthen Taiwan's capabilities in economic security, enhance partnerships with democracies around the world and maintain stable and principled leadership on cross (Taiwan) Strait ...

Taiwan issues an air raid alert saying China has launched a satellite

Taiwan's defense ministry issued an alert Tuesday saying China has launched a satellite and urging caution days before the island's elections. Taiwan holds presidential and parliamentary elections Saturday that China has described as a choice between war and peace. In English, the presidential alert sent to residents' mobile phones cautioned there was a missile flyover. The alerts went off in the middle of an international news conference by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. He clarified it was a satellite launch, told journalists not to worry, and proceeded with the news conference. China views Taiwan, which is about 160 kilometers (100 miles) off China's east coast, as a renegade province that must come under its control.

China sanctions 5 US defence cos in response to arms sales to Taiwan

China announced sanctions Sunday on five American defence-related companies in response to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and U.S sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals. The sanctions will freeze any property the companies have in China and prohibit organisations and individuals in China from doing business with them, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted online. The companies are BAE Systems Land and Armament, Alliant Techsystems Operation, AeroVironment, ViaSat and Data Link Solutions. The Foreign Ministry said the U.S. moves harmed China's sovereignty and security interests, undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and violated the rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals. The Chinese government remains unwavering in our resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens, the ministry statement said. China regards Taiwan, a ...

Taiwan says Chinese balloons are harassment and a threat to air safety

Taiwan's Defence Ministry accused China on Saturday of harassment and trying to affect public morale by repeatedly sending balloons over the self-governing island. A ministry analysis found that the paths of the balloons posed a serious threat to international passenger flights, according to a report by Taiwan's official Military News Agency. The ministry called for an immediate end to the activity to ensure flight safety. The ministry urged the people (of Taiwan) to clearly understand the Chinese Communist Party's cognitive combat methods and face it rationally and calmly so as to avoid being affected by it, the report said. The purpose of the balloons is unclear, and a Chinese state media outlet has accused Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party and Taiwanese and American media of hyping what it says are harmless weather balloons. The balloon incidents come ahead of a January 13 presidential election in Taiwan in which the island's relations with China are a major ...

Taiwan govt spots more Chinese balloons, says one flew over island

Taiwan is on high alert for Chinese activities, both military and political, ahead of Jan 13 presidential and parliamentary elections

Chinese official urges Taiwan's people to make 'correct choice' on election

China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has repeatedly cast the Jan. 13 presidential and parliamentary elections as a choice between war and peace

China's 'reunification' with Taiwan is 'inevitable', says Xi Jinping

Taiwan remains a sensitive issue in US-China relations. During a recent summit with US President Joe Biden, Xi asserted that China's "reunification" with Taiwan is "unstoppable"