TAIPEI: On Monday, Taiwan inaugurated a new president, Lai Ching-te, a moderate relative who will be able to maintain its de facto independence while trying to strengthen its defense against China. It claims that Beijing would forcibly annex Taiwan if necessary and has been threatening to do so.
Lai was greeted by his fellow politicians as well as representatives from the US, Japan and several European nations. He received congratulations from politicians representing 12 countries with which Taiwan maintains formal diplomatic relationships.
He was elected into politics when he became the mayor of Tainan City in southern Taiwan before rising through the ranks to become vice-president.
Taiwan had been led by Tsai Ing-wen for eight years during economic and social development despite Covid 19 pandemic and escalating military threats from China.
In Tsai’s second term Lai served as vice president but previously in his career he came off as more of a militant. In 2017 he described himself as a “pragmatic worker for Taiwan’s independence” prompting rebuke by Chinese government. However, he later changed his mind on this issue and now advocates maintaining status quo across the strait along with dialogue with Beijing.
Lai will continue Tsai’s efforts to expand ties with the US; it does not recognize Taiwan officially yet is obliged by separate laws to give it means for self-defense.
In her tenure, same sex- marriage legalized in Asia first time even though political accountability was avoided by leaving it up to Supreme Court decision making and series of referendum critics have said.
Controversial pension and labor reforms were presided over by her besides increasing the length of military conscription at one year; she also initiated a drive towards modernizing her armed forces such as construction of submarines worth above $16 billion each other than foreign ones.
Tsai’s leadership during this pandemic resulted into divided public opinion where many people praised Taiwan initially for having managed to keep out the virus fully but later faulted it for not investing in quick tests.
