who is William Lai, supporter of autonomy from China, who came first in the presidential election?

The candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is ahead of his main opponent, a supporter of a rapprochement with Beijing, who conceded defeat on Saturday.

The candidate for Taiwan’s presidential election, decried by China as a “serious danger” due to his positions in favor of independence, came first in the poll on Saturday January 13, according to almost final official results.

As of early evening, outgoing Vice President William Lai (also known as Lai Ching-te), of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was credited with 40.3% of the vote, according to these official results covering more than of 96% of the polling stations, while his main opponent Hou Yu-ih, candidate of the Kuomintang (KMT) who advocates rapprochement with Beijing, obtained 33.4% of the votes. The latter conceded defeat in the evening.

Aged 64, William Lai was the favorite in the polls for the presidential election, at the head of the DPP, in power since 2016. This professional doctor notably graduated from Harvard (United States). He entered the Taiwanese National Assembly in 1996 and then held numerous mandates, as mayor of the city of Tainan, in the south of the island, from 2010 to 2017. On this date, he became Prime Minister. minister, before becoming the right arm of the president elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, Tsai Ing-wen.

A supporter of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait

His party advocates autonomy and cooperation with the United States, in particular. Unlike his adversaries, William Lai, for example, refused “false peace” proposed by Beijing, in order to ignore this neighbor as long as it appears threatening.“If we lose our sovereignty, even if we have exchanges and collaboration, I don’t think it will be real peace”declared last summer this politician born in the north of the island, into a poor family. “We are ready to open the door to trade and cooperation with China on the condition of ensuring our sovereignty.”

During this campaign, William Lai demonstrated his desire to follow in the footsteps of Tsai Ing-wen. Last year, he defended the status quo in the very strategic Taiwan Strait. “My support for the status quo between the two sides of the Strait will be unwavering.” “I will respect the (commitments) of the president” Tsai Ing-wen who “allowed the world to clearly see Taiwan for what it is: a source of stability amid growing global uncertainties”he added, affirming that the tensions in the region were not “due to Taiwan, but to China”.

President, will William Lai go even further in a process of independence from China? As explained Releasethe politician softened the pro-independence positions he had taken in the past. “We are already a sovereign nation called ‘the Republic of China’. We do not need a declaration of independence”he recently declared, reports the media.