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Ruling-party candidate strongly opposed by China wins Taiwan's presidential election

71 Comments
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN and SIMINA MISTREANU

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Beijing is likely to deploy a “maximum pressure campaign”

The CCP need to attend to the many problems they have created and/or ignored within their own sovereign territory, and leave other nations alone.

Stay strong Taiwan!

Congratulations to the Taiwanese citizens that recognized the democracy and culture hey have, and want to maintain it, are better than what those in Hong Kong and on the mainland have.

25 ( +28 / -3 )

Sounds like the Taiwanese people have spoken. I hope China respects their decision.

25 ( +26 / -1 )

PTownsendToday  05:58 am JST

Beijing is likely to deploy a “maximum pressure campaign”

The CCP need to attend to the many problems they have created and/or ignored within their own sovereign territory, and leave other nations alone.

Stay strong Taiwan!

Congratulations to the Taiwanese citizens that recognized the democracy and culture hey have, and want to maintain it, are better than what those in Hong Kong and on the mainland have.

Like tend to the still enduring Covid pandemic. Get on the ball, Xi.

> UChosePoorlyToday  06:06 am JST

Sounds like the Taiwanese people have spoken. I hope China respects their decision.

They made it clear. And Xi can put this into his pipe and smoke it.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

Beijing is likely to deploy a “maximum pressure campaign”

Serves as a useful distraction, for the Party to shove in front of a long-suffering mainland population, instead of discussing the many problems that they face in their every day lives, and the many difficulties that the Party will have in solving any of them.

Congratulations to the citizens of Taiwan, for their choice in the face of such crude bully-brunted behaviors.

16 ( +19 / -3 )

Take a hike, Xi. No one wants to be a part of your fascist state.

16 ( +20 / -4 )

“This election cannot change the basic situation and the direction of cross Strait relations, nor can it change the common desire of compatriots on both sides to get closer and closer, nor can it stop the general trend that the motherland will eventually and inevitably be reunified,” Chen said.

So the communists would have it that communist China attacks Taiwan with force, killing their “compatriots”?

That would not be a thing the Chinese people would do, only a thing that the communists would do.

There is no general trend to reunification, while communism is around.

Communism was never a widespread Chinese thing, 120 years ago.

Communism has only brought death and misery to Chinese people.

“We choose our own president in Taiwan. We are a country. We are a country. We are a light of the world. We love freedom. We love democracy.

Amen. To hell with the communists.

16 ( +20 / -4 )

The Taiwanese people have had a taste of self-government and they are not giving it up.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

Hearts and minds indeed. Xi reaps what he’s down in Hong Kong.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

Lai won nearly 5.6 million votes, amassing just over 40%, while Hou claimed 33.5%. Ko garnered 26.5%.

Voter turnout was only about 70%. Once you factor that in, Lai only received support from less than 30% of eligible voters.

Lai’s party lost the legislature making it unlikely for any independence movement to take place. Add the U.S. opposition to change in the status quo (independence movement) looks like things will remain the same, no war.

Clean election with candidates honoring the results. Good news.

-13 ( +3 / -16 )

US ambassador Chuck Fina called to congratulate him just after winning.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Big congrats to President-elect Lai and the anti-Communist DPP! A true victory for free, democratic and independent Taiwan. And a rejection of Communist China - despite them meddling in the election with their proxy candidates.

Free Taiwan will never be part of Communist China.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

Add the U.S. opposition to change in the status quo (independence movement) looks like things will remain the same, no war.

It really depends on what expansionist, bullying Communist China try and do going forward. We certainly cannot say there will be "no war" when madman Xi repeatedly states that China will attack and take over Taiwan.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

The CCP has no place in today's world. Down with the CCP!

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Voter turnout was only about 70%.

A very high turnout!

12 ( +14 / -2 )

NHK showed that there are 2000+ volunteers in Taiwan for this election, involved in seeking, detecting and reporting fake news, videos, images and what not. I'm super impressed, Taiwan is the pinnacle of real Democracy, because the people understands with dirty agents like XiXiPooh, democracy can only works if the people are constantly vigilance.

Japanese citizens can and should learn a lot from this, but I'm afraid that we will never be like that.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Voter turnout was only about 70%.

A very high turnout!

Good job, Taiwan. Wish we could get to 70% in my country.

Now that the election is done, it is time to get to work and make Taiwan so prickly that covetous, sticky-fingered nations will not even think about invading. This century is going to see lots of smaller countries get prickly if things keep going the way they are going.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

 We certainly cannot say there will be "no war" when madman Xi repeatedly states that China will attack and take over Taiwan.

…if Taiwan declares independence. Tsai could have declared independence as she had the Legislature but didn’t. Lai doesn’t have the vote in the legislature to do so, so the status quo wins. This is the best result. No war.

The War mongers will start saying now Xi must take Taiwan before his (Xi’s) term ends. Nonsense. Don’t believe it.

And a rejection of Communist China - despite them meddling in the election with their proxy candidates.

No, none of the other two are pro Beijing. The difference is in trade and economics (reliance on perks and trade concessions.)

China used to be run by families 家国. It is now, like Japan - I’m sure you’ll agree - run by a party, 党国.

In Japan, Kishida is chosen by his party. In China, Xi is chosen by his party.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

Is it not lost on anyone that these people are able to vote and that if they rejoin China they lose that right? I just can't understand anyone who would vote for a group that wants to reunite with China.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Congratulations, people of Taiwan!

A win for freedom and democracy, and a big middle finger to Xi's horrific, totalitarian dystopia. Long may Taiwan continue to be the freest country in Asia:

https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2023/12/21/2003810932

Taiwan is what China could've been, were it not for the CCP. And what it still can be, once the CCP falls.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

My Taiwanese friend opined that the CCP has sabotaged their own objectives even before the election started. They have isolated Taiwanese culture and distanced it even further from traditional Chinese culture. They did the same in HK, Xinjiang, Tibet. There is no assimilation or integration, it's CCP supporters or second class citizens, and the gap is widening even with Han Chinese.

Many Taiwanese thinks the CCP will be rolled sooner rather than later.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Is it not lost on anyone that these people are able to vote and that if they rejoin China they lose that right? I just can't understand anyone who would vote for a group that wants to reunite with China.

They can vote in the local elections for their local officials like in Japan. They don’t get to vote for the leader of the country but neither do the Japanese.

When they are reunited, Taiwan would be like Hong Kong with their own system but with Beijing’s meddling or “guidance” a euphemistic term used in Japan.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

When they are reunited, Taiwan would be like Hong Kong with their own system but with Beijing’s meddling or “guidance” a euphemistic term used in Japan.

We know. And nobody wants to be the next Hong Kong. Do you perhaps have a different opinion than most people here on this?

9 ( +12 / -3 )

Very pleasing news. Congratulations!

There is no assimilation or integration, it's CCP supporters or second class citizens, and the gap is widening even with Han Chinese.

That seems to be very true so it is a great concern.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Is this just all just a big misunderstanding? Do they Chinese think the Taiwanese want to be the next Hong Kong?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

They can vote in the local elections for their local officials like in Japan. They don’t get to vote for the leader of the country but neither do the Japanese.

For any political party they choose?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

quercetumToday 07:25 am JST

Lai won nearly 5.6 million votes, amassing just over 40%, while Hou claimed 33.5%. Ko garnered 26.5%.

Voter turnout was only about 70%. Once you factor that in, Lai only received support from less than 30% of eligible voters.

Simple majority is the rule in many electoral systems. Flawed democracy is better than no democracy.

Lai’s party lost the legislature making it unlikely for any independence movement to take place. Add the U.S. opposition to change in the status quo (independence movement) looks like things will remain the same, no war.

The DPP was always against independence. They know it will take a collapse of the CCP for that.

Clean election with candidates honoring the results. Good news.

At least we agree on that.

…if Taiwan declares independence. Tsai could have declared independence as she had the Legislature but didn’t. Lai doesn’t have the vote in the legislature to do so, so the status quo wins. This is the best result. No war.

So you admit that independence was never on the table.

The War mongers will start saying now Xi must take Taiwan before his (Xi’s) term ends. Nonsense. Don’t believe it.

Some of your own compatriots here say that.

And a rejection of Communist China - despite them meddling in the election with their proxy candidates.

No, none of the other two are pro Beijing. The difference is in trade and economics (reliance on perks and trade concessions.)

Well we don't know whether the other two would have pursued vigorous weapons purchases.

China used to be run by families 家国. It is now, like Japan - I’m sure you’ll agree - run by a party, 党国.

In Japan, Kishida is chosen by his party. In China, Xi is chosen by his party.

The difference is in China, any party but the CCP is banned.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Many Taiwanese thinks the CCP will be rolled sooner rather than later.

This also shows the opinion that the other two candidates in this election are proxies of Beijing is out of touch from reality.

One of the other candidates thinks that the Chinese economy will collapse and the CCP will be out the door. Ko, the alternative to Lai, is not for Taiwanese Independence though.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

lol at people from authoritarian countries telling people from democracies why democracies are no good.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

If you don't have the right to assembly, then you are a slave.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Well done Taiwan, a pleasure to see a democracy in action. No wonder the mafia CCP are terrified their own oppressed masses might get a whiff of what is possible. Taiwan is an existential threat to their greedy grasp on power.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Taiwan is what China could've been, were it not for the CCP. And what it still can be, once the CCP falls.

This opinion is about half a century old and has been around a long time. Taiwan U.S. what China could have been or back decades ago in the 60’s it was Japan is what China could face been. The lamenting of how the U.S. lost China still lingers today.

It’s not so much were it not for the CCP other than that they fought and defeated the KMT, but were it not for the corrupt KMT that pocketed US aid causing the US to abandon. If that had not taken place then mainland China would be a U.S. friendly nation like Japan and South Korea.

There are parallels. If the U.S. pulled the plug on Zelenskyy (General Chiang Kai-shek), Ukraine (mainland China) would fall to Russia (CCP) and into the hands of Putin (Mao.)

Unfortunately, from the Western perspective, that is what the US did.

Many oppose continuing giving billions to Ukraine today and believe that the US need not be in a war half way across the country. History repeats.

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

Seems like a vote for something much more than the local autonomy the Chinese government originally granted Hong Kong. Doesn't look like the Taiwanese believe for a moment in Chinese lies, probably after seeing what has happened in Hong Kong. Keep your focus there to see your future under the heel of Xi.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Good news! Congrats to the new president.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

“We do not support independence," Biden told reporters when asked for comment on DPP candidate William Lai’s victory.”

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

quercetumToday 08:25 am JST

They can vote in the local elections for their local officials like in Japan.

Local officials that have zero political power other than deciding things like garbage day, and who must adhere to the CCP's party line and Xi Jinping Thought. If not, they will be ejected, imprisoned, disappeared, or executed.

So, not like Japan in any way.

Taiwan would be like Hong Kong

Which is exactly why the Taiwanese people reject it.

This opinion is about half a century old and has been around a long time.

So what? That doesn't mean it's a bad one.

Many Chinese people think this way too. Just ask the Hong Kong protesters, Tiananmen protesters, COVID lockdown protesters, people of Xinjiang, people of Tibet, people of inner Mongolia, human rights defenders, followers of religions, LGBTQ people, etc. etc.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

They can vote in the local elections for their local officials like in Japan. They don’t get to vote for the leader of the country but neither do the Japanese.

For any political party they choose?

They’re just candidates. No party affiliations. They have a chance to be promoted to the CCP if they perform well. It’s a meritocracy. Think of it like getting into Toady, Tokyo University or into the ministries in Kasumigaseki.

The examination system is thousands years old and comes from China.

-16 ( +1 / -17 )

Quercetum - it seems like you are very proud of your old system and I’m not trying to take away from that, but the Chinese people do not have the right to assemble.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

William Lai: Taiwan just chose a president China loathes. What now?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67920530

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

They have a chance to be promoted to the CCP if they perform well. It’s a meritocracy.

What if I am Chinese and opposed to everything the CCP stands for, am I free to meet with other like-minded citizens to discuss the merits of the CCP and how we might be able to do a better job for the Chinese people?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Or would that discussion be shut down right quick?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

It’s a meritocracy.

... which of course, monopolists excel at. We allow monopolies when we have to. It’s almost never the desired situation.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Phew!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Lai won nearly 5.6 million votes, amassing just over 40%, while Hou claimed 33.5%. Ko garnered 26.5%.

Voter turnout was only about 70%.

This is millions more and a much higher % than the 0% of Chinese citizens who got to vote on who their leader should be.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Mr Lai! Take it easy!!

Or it will become difficult for you!!!

Get it?

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

It's ok, Quercetum, on here, you can say something negative about the CCP. They aren't going to find you here, and we aren't going to turn you in.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Mr Lai! Take it easy!!

Or it will become difficult for you!!!

Get it?

With those water-filled missiles?

Pooh Bear, Taiwan and its Allies are not intimidated. Stick to your knitting at home (housing bubble, youth unemployment, etc.), get it?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

This is millions more and a much higher % than the 0% of Chinese citizens who got to vote on who their leader should be.

It's also A LOT HIGHER than the voter turnout in the recent HK election... a clear victory for the DPP, and really shows how people are more motivated when they know their voice actually means something.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Many Taiwanese thinks the CCP will be rolled sooner rather than later.

This seems the best approach. Resist CCP bullying, but avoid open conflict. The CCP, like all authoritarians, is sowing the seeds of its own demise. But, as a warning, failing governments tend to lash out - so there is no easy path.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Congratulations to Mr Lai and the people of Taiwan!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

China is worried that this election makes them look weak once again.

Communist China Clamps Down on Chatter About Taiwan’s Election

https://www.yahoo.com/news/communist-china-clamps-down-chatter-062707487.html

The CCP blocked all communication on social media once they got word that Lai won the election.

A hashtag about the pivotal vote was trending on Chinese social media platform Weibo on Saturday morning, as polls opened. By midday, searches for “Taiwan election” yielded a noticed reading: “According to relevant laws, regulations and policies, the content of this topic is not displayed.”

China is much more afraid of Taiwan than Taiwan is of China. The Faustian Bargain the CCP made with the Chinese people was that the CCP was the only path to prosperity and if the people surrendered their freedoms to the CCP, the CCP would provide that prosperity. But right off the Chinese coast is a tiny island, filled with ethnic Chinese, which has become far more successful than China without having to cede their freedoms. That scares the bejeebies out of the CCP as it should. This is the reason why they couldn't let Hong Kong remain free. And now that China has begun its inevitable downward slide, the CCP's need to eliminate this Taiwanese "threat" is even more urgent as their chances of victory will begin to diminish with each passing year. Unfortunately for the CCP, they still lack the means to assure a win if they invade but they absolutely could lay waste to the island. It is incumbent upon freedom-loving countries to continue to band together to counter the CCP.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

It is incumbent upon freedom-loving countries to continue to band together to counter the CCP.

People are realizing that we can stand up to authoritarianism. It isn't inevitable. If anything, freedom is inevitable in the long haul.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

If true, they really are afraid.

The CCP blocked all communication on social media once they got word that Lai won the election.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

China is worried that this election makes them look weak once again.

And the citizens of the PRC are thinking “Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Singapore and even Taiwan have democratic elections. Why can’t we?”

7 ( +7 / -0 )

The CCP blocked all communication on social media once they got word that Lai won the election.

Yet there is soooooo much (obviously Chinese, but in English) hate for the Taiwanese on Twitter today. Strange that. It's like, come on guys, nobody hates the Taiwanese except for the CCP. You aren't fooling anyone. Shoulda been pumping out the Taiwanese Nazi rumors for years to try and swing the world against the Taiwanese. That's how it's done.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

And the citizens of the PRC are thinking “Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Singapore and even Taiwan have democratic elections. Why can’t we?

And even Outer Mongolia too! lol

3 ( +3 / -0 )

sorry, *Mongolia

3 ( +3 / -0 )

China's Xi Jinping government is said to have exerted all its efforts to influence voters in Taiwan's presidential election. Notwithstanding, Taiwan's voters elected pro-independence candidate Lai Ching-te to be their next leader. Beijing's effort seems to have gone inadvertently in spite of themselves.

Hope high winds and high waves surrounding Taiwan will calm down.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

This will likely consolidate the CCP's decision to go for it in August / September when the weather is favourable for blockades / landings.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

All Xi can do is bang his spoon on his highchair tray.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

KaowaiinekochanknawToday 01:01 pm JST

This will likely consolidate the CCP's decision to go for it in August / September when the weather is favourable for blockades / landings.

Going to war with Taiwan, and very likely a coalition of other countries including the US -- with all the death, destruction, and economic consequences that would entail for China -- is certainly not in the Chinese people's interests.

But Xi will do whatever he will do, no matter whether it's in the Chinese people's interests or not. He cares nothing for them: only for himself and the CCP.

Luckily, Taiwan has the DPP in charge, who are diligently preparing for the worst with astute diplomacy and concrete military and civil defense efforts. The KMT would just roll over before the CCP even reached Taiwan's shores.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

More likely they'll up the whining and threats to distract the Chinese public from their many bigger problems.

This will likely consolidate the CCP's decision to go for it in August / September when the weather is favourable for blockades / landings.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Taiwan have spoken again. We want democracy. They have elected the right man for the right job. Congratulation to Mr. William Lai. You have made Taiwan proud and stand tall against all odds despite endless threat and bully from CCP.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Big Congratulation to Taiwan and Taiwanese people !!!! Democracy and freedom will prevail!!!

CCP evil will never rule the island

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Mr Lai! Take it easy!!

Or it will become difficult for you!!!

Get it?

With those water-filled missiles?

This is as silly as the spy balloon. China no longer uses Liquid Fuel or Liquid Propellant in its rockets. This has been so since 2017.

And assuming the Chinese were stupid to fill water instead of liquid fuels to the inactive pre 2017 rockets , how much do you think they would have made?

It costs around six bucks per kg. This means around three bucks in China.

That's a maximum of 12,000 bucks per rocket needing around 4000 Kilograms of fuel.

That's $1.2 Million for 100 Rockets. So that's around $100,000 per head or 700,000 RMB.

So a Senior level PLAAF official who earns close to 240K RMB a year plus lifetime housing in a comfortable independent house and not a flat plus a lifetime of free healthcare plus a lifetime payment of 136K RMB a year with inflation…you think would commit corruption for a paltry 700,000 RMB?

And who would buy the fuel? Lol. Use your head. Come on.

And where would he keep the money earned? The lies you Western media comers up are so dumb yet they believe this.

And so is the lie of million Uighur deaths in those concentration camps.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

quercetumToday 07:56 pm JST

And so is the lie of million Uighur deaths in those concentration camps.

No-one has (to my knowledge) ever said there have been a million deaths. They have said there are up to/over a million detentions.

And you don't even need to kill anyone to commit genocide anyway. There are five categories, and only one needs to be fulfilled for the crime to be classed as genocide. China fulfills all five in Xinjiang.

Though you will dispute this, more open-minded people can see the below (The Tribunal then considered, second, whether there is evidence establishing any or all the five prohibited acts, necessary for proof of genocide):

https://uyghurtribunal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/UT_Judgment_E-PDF_activelinks_20Feb2023_FINAL.pdf

The CCP has nothing to offer people but brutality and oppression, and people will not vote for that - as we see here with Taiwan.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

China just doesn't get it. Any hope of having Taiwan move closer went away the moment they breached the agreements they had with Hong Kong. You can't trust China. "One country, two systems" is just a facade.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

That's a very thorough and astute analysis, Quercetum. I especially like the part where the Taiwanese are free from the CCP.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

JohnJan. 14  07:00 am JST

The Taiwanese people have had a taste of self-government and they are not giving it up.

What year is this, Xi? It's 2024, not 1949. Accept the truth and suck it up, chump!

isabelleJan. 14  08:21 pm JST

quercetumToday 07:56 pm JST

And so is the lie of million Uighur deaths in those concentration camps.

No-one has (to my knowledge) ever said there have been a million deaths. They have said there are up to/over a million detentions.

And you don't even need to kill anyone to commit genocide anyway. There are five categories, and only one needs to be fulfilled for the crime to be classed as genocide. China fulfills all five in Xinjiang.

Though you will dispute this, more open-minded people can see the below (The Tribunal then considered, second, whether there is evidence establishing any or all the five prohibited acts, necessary for proof of genocide):

https://uyghurtribunal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/UT_Judgment_E-PDF_activelinks_20Feb2023_FINAL.pdf

The CCP has nothing to offer people but brutality and oppression, and people will not vote for that - as we see here with Taiwan.

Taiwanese remember what that Commie clod Mao did during his 'More-Commie-Than-Thou' Cultural Revolution. He murdered millions of his own Chinese citizens, and for what? Even Communists outside of China were flabbergasted by that. And Mao's historical stench lingers to this day. I saw live on NBC-TV the start of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. Many people did. And nothing has changed there.

And the Taiwanese want nothing to do with that madness. Would you?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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