Taiwan's New Era: President Lai Ching-te Calls For Peace Amid Tensions With China

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te urged Beijing to cease its intimidation of the democratic island during his inauguration on Monday. This marks the beginning of a historic third consecutive term for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has championed democracy despite increasing threats from authoritarian China.

Lai, 64, a former doctor and vice president, was sworn in alongside new Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, who previously served as Taiwan’s top envoy to the United States.

Both leaders and their party are openly disliked by Beijing for advocating Taiwan’s sovereignty. China’s ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy as part of its territory, despite never having controlled it, and has vowed to take the island by force if necessary.

In his 30-minute inaugural speech, Lai broadcasted a message of peace, declaring that a “glorious era of Taiwan’s democracy has arrived.” He described Taiwan as an “important link” in a “global chain of democracies” and reiterated the island’s determination to defend its sovereignty.

“The future of the Republic of China (Taiwan) will be decided by its 23 million people. The future we decide is not just the future of our nation, but the future of the world,” Lai stated, using the formal name for Taiwan.

Lai succeeds DPP predecessor Tsai Ing-wen, who bolstered the island’s international standing during her eight years in office. Tsai, Taiwan’s first female president, was unable to run again due to term limits.

Lai triumphed over rivals from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party and the Taiwan People’s Party in a January election, which focused on both livelihood issues and the challenging relationship with China. Under leader Xi Jinping, China has grown more powerful and aggressive.

Voters disregarded Beijing's warnings that the DPP’s re-election would heighten the risk of conflict. The DPP maintains that Taiwan is a de facto sovereign nation and should strengthen its defenses against China’s threats while deepening ties with democratic countries.

In his inaugural address, Lai called on China “to cease their political and military intimidation against Taiwan, share with Taiwan the global responsibility of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as well as the greater region, and ensure the world is free from the fear of war.”

A soft-spoken political veteran, Lai hails from a more radical wing of the DPP and was once an open supporter of Taiwan independence—a red line for Beijing.

Though his views have moderated since then, China has not forgiven him for his comments from six years ago, in which he described himself as a “practical worker for Taiwan independence.”

Lai now supports the current status quo, proclaiming that “Taiwan is already an independent sovereign country,” so there is “no plan or need” to declare independence, mirroring the stance of outgoing President Tsai.

When asked about Lai’s inauguration, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry reiterated that “Taiwan independence is a dead end. No matter what pretext or banner one uses, promoting Taiwan independence and secession is doomed to fail.”

Lai’s inauguration ceremony was attended by national leaders from the few countries with which Taiwan maintains formal diplomatic ties, several former American officials, and lawmakers from other countries, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai and “the Taiwan people for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust and resilient democratic system.”

“We look forward to working with President Lai and across Taiwan’s political spectrum to advance our shared interests and values, deepen our longstanding unofficial relationship, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” Blinken said.

Frictions with Beijing:

Lai takes office during a particularly contentious period between Taiwan and China, which has ramped up diplomatic, economic, and military pressure on the self-governing democracy as Taiwan’s leaders tightened informal ties with Washington.

In his inaugural address, Lai expressed hope that China would “face the reality of the Republic of China’s existence, respect the choices of the people of Taiwan,” and “engage in cooperation with the legal government chosen by Taiwan’s people.”

He proposed resuming reciprocal tourism and enrolling degree students in Taiwanese institutions as steps to “pursue peace and mutual prosperity.”

However, Lai also warned against harboring illusions, even as Taiwan pursues “the ideals of peace.”

“So long as China refuses to renounce the use of force against Taiwan, all of us in Taiwan ought to understand that even if we accept the entirety of China’s position and give up our sovereignty, China’s ambition to annex Taiwan will not simply disappear,” Lai said.

Beijing has sought to portray Lai as inciting conflict, framing the elections earlier this year as a choice between “peace and war.”

On Monday, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office reiterated this rhetoric, criticizing “the leader of the Taiwan region” for “sending dangerous signals of seeking independence, provocations, and undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”

Xi has made “reunification” with Taiwan a key part of his goal to achieve China’s “national rejuvenation.” However, under his strongarm tactics over more than a decade, Taiwan’s public has decisively shifted away from China. Less than 10% now support immediate or eventual unification, and less than 3% identify primarily as Chinese.

The majority of Taiwanese want to maintain the current status quo and have no desire to be ruled by Beijing.

Beijing has cut official contact with Taipei since Tsai took office. Unlike the opposition KMT, Tsai and the DPP refused to endorse the so-called “1992 consensus” that both Taiwan and the mainland belong to “one China,” but with different interpretations of what that means. Beijing deems the tacit agreement a precondition for dialogue.

Official communication between Beijing and Taipei is unlikely to resume as Lai takes office, with China repeatedly rejecting his offer for talks and denouncing him as a dangerous separatist.

Lai will face challenges and scrutiny in pushing through his agenda for Taiwan in parliament during his term. Unlike his predecessor, Lai will not have a parliamentary majority in the next four years. In January’s election, the DPP won only 51 out of 113 seats.

These challenges were evident last Friday, when Taiwanese lawmakers' disagreements over new, controversial reform bills erupted in a brawl on the parliamentary floor—a chaotic display that saw some lawmakers leaping over tables and pulling colleagues to the floor, with a few members taken to the hospital.

In his address, Lai stated that “a lack of absolute majority means that the ruling and opposition parties are now all able to share their ideas, and that we will be undertaking the nation’s challenges as one.” 

He also called for cooperation so Taiwan could “continue down a stable path.”