Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim held an international press conference this week. During the press conference, not only did Lai reemphasize that Taiwan is an independent sovereign state, but he also voiced criticism towards Beijing’s intention to influence the results of the upcoming election.
Lai expressed concerns that should China’s interference be successful, the election results could jeopardize Taiwan’s democracy. He said, “If China’s intervention in the election succeeds, and whoever China appoints and supports gets elected, then Taiwan’s democracy will be lost.”
The 2024 presidential race is significant as it marks the fourth transition between democratically elected governments since 1996, when full democratic elections were introduced in Taiwan. The election is scheduled for January 13, 2024, with major competing candidates being incumbent New Taipei mayor Hou Yu-ih from the Kuomintang (KMT) party and former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, now leading the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP).
In a recent interview, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu pointed out how China has been using various methods such as military threats and economic coercion to influence the choice of voters. According to him, China has portrayed the election as a decision between “war or peace,” and “recession or prosperity.”
The Central Election Commission in Taiwan, in a recent statement, reiterated that anyone involved in voting and vote counting must follow the law. The Commission warned that anyone who disrupts the voting process or impedes the people’s right to vote would be held accountable based on relevant laws.
In contrast, Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, reiterated that matters concerning Taiwan are purely internal and its local elections should be considered a Chinese affair. She reminded the United States to respect the One-China principle outlined in the three China-US joint communiques and refrain from interfering in the election.
On the other hand, during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November 2023, US President Biden clarified that the US’s policy towards Taiwan remains unchanged and committed to the long-standing One-China policy. The White House further confirmed that it does not endorse any candidates in the Taiwanese elections and opposes any outside interference.
This article was originally published on JURIST.