January 13, 2024
No. 011

The elections of the 16th-term president and vice president and the 11th Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan) were smoothly completed through a fair and free process on January 13. According to preliminary data from the Central Election Commission, candidates Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim were elected the next president and vice president, respectively, with more than 5.58 million votes, or 40.05 percent of the vote.

The vote count was completed on January 13. The governments of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies Palau, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Nauru, Haiti, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Guatemala, Belize, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Paraguay, Saint Lucia, and Eswatini extended their felicitations. In addition, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña Palacios congratulated President-elect Lai via videoconference, and Guatemalan Foreign Minister Mario Búcaro expressed his congratulations to Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu in person. 

The US Department of State, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the European External Action Service promptly conveyed felicitations to President-elect Lai and Vice President-elect Hsiao and highly commended Taiwan’s democratic accomplishments. Taiwan also received congratulatory messages from the US House of Representatives speaker; senior members of the European Parliament and more than 30 national parliaments, including those of the United States, Japan, and European nations; and the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, which comprises more than 30 member countries. Over a dozen delegations from diplomatic allies, the United States, Japan, European nations, and other countries will be arriving in Taiwan to offer congratulations in a concrete demonstration of support for democratic Taiwan. On behalf of the people and government of Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sincerely thanks the governments of these friendly countries for their strong affirmation of Taiwan’s elections.

These elections represent an important accomplishment of Taiwan’s democracy. They not only demonstrate to the world that the Taiwanese people unequivocally and staunchly uphold their free and democratic constitutional system and self-determination but also underscore Taiwan’s strong and healthy democratic resilience, setting another major milestone in its democratic development. Considering the expansion of malevolent influence around the world by authoritarian regimes, the smooth completion of Taiwan’s eighth presidential and vice presidential election bears testament once again to the fact that Taiwan is a mature democracy, a beacon of freedom, and a bastion of human rights in Asia, as well as an exemplary model of democracy for the world.

Prior to the elections, Taiwan was subjected to unprecedented electoral interference from China through such tactics as military intimidation, economic coercion, diplomatic bullying, political pressure, cognitive warfare, and push for integration and annexation. Despite China’s use of hybrid warfare to meddle in Taiwan’s democratic process and attempts to erode Taiwan’s democratic system, Taiwanese voters made the decision with a clear and calm mind to safeguard their hard-won free and democratic way of life. At the same time, China’s interference in Taiwan’s elections exposed the schemes and tactics employed by authoritarian regimes to meddle in democratic elections. This year, dozens of countries will hold elections. Taiwan’s elections will serve as a timely reminder to democratic partners to remain vigilant and take precautions against interference by China and other authoritarian countries. Indeed, these elections serve as a major triumph for the people of Taiwan, a key victory for the democratic community, and an important win for democratic values.

In these elections, the people of Taiwan fully demonstrated their will to safeguard the values of democracy and freedom. Taiwan will continue to work hand in hand with democratic partners to jointly counter authoritarianism; prevent all attempts to erode democratic systems worldwide; preserve peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and in the region; and protect the rules-based international order. This will enable Taiwan to remain a force for good and a reliable partner to the international community. (E)