Taiwan ruling party nominates VP as presidential candidate
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The 63-year-old has long been considered the frontrunner for the DPP nomination to replace Tsai, who will be unable to seek reelection following the conclusion of her second four-year term in May 2024.
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Taiwan's Vice President William Lai speaking at a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan, January 18, 2023. (Reuters)
The ruling party of Taiwan named Vice President William Lai as their candidate for the presidency of Taiwan in the next elections.
"I am very honored to have received the DPP's nomination to take part in the 2024 presidential election and to uphold the duty of safeguarding Taiwan," Lai said at a Democratic Progressive Party press conference on Wednesday.
The 63-year-old has long been considered the frontrunner for the DPP nomination to replace Tsai, who will be unable to seek reelection following the conclusion of her second four-year term in May 2024.
Lai has long advocated that Taiwan cannot achieve a peaceful future by 'appeasing' China, and is pushing toward independence from the mainland, calling on the island’s residents to "unite against its authoritarianism".
Reassuring his stance, Lai said, "Now, the democratic bloc in the international community has noticed China’s threat to the international community, and is concerned with the importance of peace in the Taiwan Strait."
"You must prepare for war to avoid war, to stop a war you must be able to fight a war."
A 'pragmatic independence worker'
Elsewhere in his remarks, Lai praised Tsai's two terms as president, claiming they helped Taiwan gain international recognition for its commitment to "democracy". "In the future, I will continue to strengthen democratic Taiwan in the same democratic path, so the world can see Taiwan's value, and embrace Taiwan," he said.
The controversial politician has constantly bragged about being a "pragmatic Taiwan independence worker". In January, he explained that this means he believes that the island to already be a "sovereign country and there is no need for Taiwan to declare independence again".
Lai concluded by sending a message to voters, stressing that next year's polls will be "a choice between democracy or authoritarianism".
The next elections are expected to draw global attention as Taiwan is increasingly becoming a flashpoint for US-Chinese tension, largely because of Washington's continued arms shipments to Taipei.
This is happening as China launched its three-day Operation "United Sharp Sword" where Chinese jets and warships reportedly simulated strikes on Taiwan.
The operation was launched in response to a meeting between Taiwan's President and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on April 5.
Taiwanese authorities condemned the military exercises and the US said it is “monitoring Beijing’s actions closely.”
Read more: Taiwan lacks necessary defensive capabilities to deter China: US Rep.
