Taiwan’s election is being hailed as an astounding success for liberal democracy. However, the Democratic Progressive Party’s victory in Taiwan is less than absolute.
President-elect Lai’s administration will certainly be limited in its capacity to enact any major change of course in the coming four years. Meanwhile, Beijing’s Taiwan policy has proven ineffective and may need a course change.
The political success of William Lai, Vice President and President-elect of Taiwan, is remarkable in more ways than one. He has an impeccable track record of political victories: four times as a member of the Legislative Yuan, twice as mayor, the VP, and the presidential candidate, winning every major election for which he contested. The 2024 presidential victory is a tribute as much to the shifting public sentiment as his political deftness.
Secondly, this marks the third consecutive win for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the Taiwanese presidential elections — the first time a political party has delivered such accomplishments since democratic elections were introduced in Taiwan.
Thirdly, president-elect Lai won despite enormous pressure from mainland China, deeming Beijing's military and economic pressure increasingly ineffective and unpopular among the people in Taiwan.