On May 20, the inauguration ceremony of Taiwan’s incoming president, William Lai Ching-te, was held after he won 40% of the votes in the January presidential election. In those elections, the president’s ruling party, the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party, which advocates separation from the People’s Republic of China), lost its majority in parliament, with the KMT (Kuomintang, which advocates closer ties with China) becoming the largest party in the House of Representatives. As a result, the president is expected to encounter challenges in promoting his policies.
President Lai took office after two consecutive terms of his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, who made significant changes in Taiwan’s foreign and security policy and led a deterrence strategy, investing in defense development, increasing military capabilities, and strengthening ties with partner countries. During her presidency, the defense budget was almost doubled, many weapons were purchased and developed, and a locally produced submarine was even built for the first time. Another measure that had social repercussions was the extension of the mandatory military service time from four months to one year.
In his inauguration speech, President Lai emphasized the right of the Taiwanese people to determine their future and called on China to stop its threats. At the same time, he pledged to strive for peace and stability in the Strait of Taiwan while maintaining the island’s democracy in the face of increasing threats by its neighbor. Lai called for the renewal of contact with Beijing, which was severed after the victory of the DPP in the 2016 elections, and the restoration of civil relations between the countries. In his inauguration speech, he presented a four-legged policy plan that he will promote—developing defense, maintaining economic security, strengthening relationships with democracies overseas, and pursuing a consistent policy in the Taiwan Strait conflict. Beijing was quick to respond to his speech, stating that the current tensions in the Taiwan Strait stemmed from the DPP’s pursuit of independence, the rejection of the 1992 consensus, and provocations with external partners, and argued that reunification was inevitable, and any separatist action would not be tolerated.
Additional challenges that the island is expected to face stem from the fact that in recent years, nine of Taiwan’s allies have severed relations with it due to Chinese pressure, and the latest of them, the Republic of Nauru, severed relations a few days after the election results in January. Also, to continue to guarantee Taiwan’s role in the world’s supply chains, the new government should continue to invest in the development of technologies, first and foremost in semiconductors.
President Lai visited Israel in 2016 when he participated in an international conference for mayors as the mayor of Tainan and even spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu during the visit. Lai expressed admiration and enthusiasm for Israel’s economic and technological achievements as well as its national resilience, from which, in his opinion, Taiwan can learn a lot. Accordingly, the ambitions in Taipei to strengthen ties are expected to continue and the policy in Taiwan toward Israel will continue to be very sympathetic.
On May 20, the inauguration ceremony of Taiwan’s incoming president, William Lai Ching-te, was held after he won 40% of the votes in the January presidential election. In those elections, the president’s ruling party, the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party, which advocates separation from the People’s Republic of China), lost its majority in parliament, with the KMT (Kuomintang, which advocates closer ties with China) becoming the largest party in the House of Representatives. As a result, the president is expected to encounter challenges in promoting his policies.
President Lai took office after two consecutive terms of his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, who made significant changes in Taiwan’s foreign and security policy and led a deterrence strategy, investing in defense development, increasing military capabilities, and strengthening ties with partner countries. During her presidency, the defense budget was almost doubled, many weapons were purchased and developed, and a locally produced submarine was even built for the first time. Another measure that had social repercussions was the extension of the mandatory military service time from four months to one year.
In his inauguration speech, President Lai emphasized the right of the Taiwanese people to determine their future and called on China to stop its threats. At the same time, he pledged to strive for peace and stability in the Strait of Taiwan while maintaining the island’s democracy in the face of increasing threats by its neighbor. Lai called for the renewal of contact with Beijing, which was severed after the victory of the DPP in the 2016 elections, and the restoration of civil relations between the countries. In his inauguration speech, he presented a four-legged policy plan that he will promote—developing defense, maintaining economic security, strengthening relationships with democracies overseas, and pursuing a consistent policy in the Taiwan Strait conflict. Beijing was quick to respond to his speech, stating that the current tensions in the Taiwan Strait stemmed from the DPP’s pursuit of independence, the rejection of the 1992 consensus, and provocations with external partners, and argued that reunification was inevitable, and any separatist action would not be tolerated.
Additional challenges that the island is expected to face stem from the fact that in recent years, nine of Taiwan’s allies have severed relations with it due to Chinese pressure, and the latest of them, the Republic of Nauru, severed relations a few days after the election results in January. Also, to continue to guarantee Taiwan’s role in the world’s supply chains, the new government should continue to invest in the development of technologies, first and foremost in semiconductors.
President Lai visited Israel in 2016 when he participated in an international conference for mayors as the mayor of Tainan and even spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu during the visit. Lai expressed admiration and enthusiasm for Israel’s economic and technological achievements as well as its national resilience, from which, in his opinion, Taiwan can learn a lot. Accordingly, the ambitions in Taipei to strengthen ties are expected to continue and the policy in Taiwan toward Israel will continue to be very sympathetic.