Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, urged China to “stop its political and military intimidation” during his inauguration speech on Monday, May 20, and thanked the Taiwanese for resisting the influence “of external forces.” “The glorious era of Taiwanese democracy has arrived,” he also proclaimed.
Lai Ching-te succeeds Tsai Ing-wen, whose eight years in office were marked by a deterioration in relations with Beijing. Mr. Lai took his oath of office at the presidential palace in Taipei, according to footage from an official video pool, as did the new vice president, Hsiao Bi-khim.
Coming from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the same movement as his predecessor, Mr. Lai has described himself in the past as a “pragmatic architect of Taiwan’s independence.” He has since softened his speech, defending the maintenance of the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait and now affirming that an independence process is not necessary, because the island de facto has this status, according to him.
His outspokenness and posture drew the ire of Beijing, which called him a “dangerous separatist” leading Taiwan on the path “to war and decline.” Mr Lai has tried to reopen dialogue with China, which Beijing broke off in 2016, but experts say he risks being rebuffed.
His name blocked on the Chinese social network Weibo
The social network Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of the X platform, blocked the hashtag of the name of the new Taiwanese president on Monday, Agence France-Presse noted on Monday. “In accordance with applicable laws, regulations and policies, the content of this topic cannot be displayed,” Weibo says laconically on its site when a search is made with the hashtag “Lai Ching-te”. The hashtag of the name of her predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, was also blocked.
Among the 51 international delegations invited (including the United States, Japan and Canada), eight heads of state were invited to show their support for Taiwanese democracy. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai Ching-te on Sunday evening, whose inauguration is, according to him, the sign of a “resilient democratic system”.
Blinken said in a statement that he hoped Taipei and Washington could strengthen their relations and maintain “peace and stability” in the Taiwan Strait region. “We also congratulate the people of Taiwan for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust and resilient democratic system,” the secretary of state added.
Despite support from the United States, Taiwan suffers from a lack of diplomatic recognition, having only twelve allies on the international scene. However, the island has its own institutions, an army and a currency: the new Taiwan dollar.
The majority of the 23 million inhabitants believe they have their own Taiwanese identity, distinct from China.
