The new Taiwan ruling party chair swears to preserve democracy

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The new head of Taiwan’s ruling party who described himself as pro-independence vowed to uphold the self-ruled island’s democracy in face of China’s authoritarianism Keep up the current policies that have established relations with China, and with the U.S.

Lai Chingte, currently Taiwan’s vice-president, assumed Wednesday the role of chair of the Democratic Progress Party.

On Sunday, he won the internal party vote and became the interim chair. This was after President Tsai-wen had resigned as party chairman in November when the DPP suffered a huge loss in the Taiwanese mayoral races. Lai is also expected to be the party’s candidate in the 2024 presidential elections.

“Facing China’s threat in the future, our new mission is to guard Taiwan, promoting Taiwan’s democracy, peace and prosperity,” said Lai, a long-time politician who once served as mayor of the southern city of Tainan. “Peace is something everyone hopes for.”

If Lai is elected president, watch out for how he deals with China and the U.S.

Lai had described himself as a “political worker who advocates for Taiwan independence” when he was serving in Tsai’s Cabinet in the previous administration, but that did not preclude extending a “hand of friendship” to China.

Kao-cheng Wang, a Tamkiang University professor and expert on international relations, stated that he is likely continue Tsai’s policy of foreign cooperation by working closely alongside Japan and the United States.

“I think everyone is rather concerned with how he will handle cross-straits relations, because he had called himself a ‘pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence,'” Wang said. “This has become an important label that has stuck to him.”

In his speech Wednesday, Lai said he would carry on with Tsai’s policy of “four continuances” that concern Taiwan and China, affirm Taiwan’s democratic system and maintain that Taiwan and China do not belong together.

In November, Lai said he takes the phrase of being a Taiwanese independence worker to mean that “Taiwan is not part of China,” which is also in line with Tsai’s publicly stated position.

Following a civil conflict, Taiwan and mainland have been administered separately since 1949.

Beijing views Taiwan as a Chinese territory It must control this country, and force it to do so if necessary. Recent visits to Taiwan by foreign politicians, including Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of U.S. House. delegates from the European Union, spurred displays of military might From both sides.

China refuses to acknowledge Taiwanese self-determination or recognize Tsai’s government. Since the beginning of her second term in 2016, they have not been in contact.

Lai has previously served as the head of the Executive Yuan — Taiwan’s Cabinet — and was a doctor practicing internal medicine before joining politics.

“He is an honest politician,” You Ying-lung, a former DPP vice secretary, said of Lai. “He will not play the role of a political risk-taker on cross-straits issues.”