13 January 2024

On 13 January 2024, the people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) went to the polls. All of Taiwan's national elected officials were on the ballot, including the entire Legislative Yuan and the office of the Presidency. With Tsai Ing-wen finishing her second term in office, she has now been term-limited out of running for office again, ensuring that a new face will occupy the office of President at the end of this election cycle.

The Democratic Progressive Party Candidate: Lai Ching-te

Lai Ching-te, MD, also known as William Lai Ching-te, MD, 65, is the current Vice President of the Republic of China (Taiwan). A medical doctor by training (specializing in spinal cord damage), Lai entered politics as part of Chen Ding-nan's team during his unsuccessful bid to become Governor of Taiwan Province in 1994. After this failed campaign, he decided to enter politics himself, winning a seat to the National Assembly (the predecessor of the current legislative branch) from Tainan City in 1996, he proceeded to win seats in the Legislative Yuan in 1998, 2001, 2004, and 2008. Serving as a legislator for eleven years, Taipei-based NGO Citizen Congress Watch awarded him the title of "Best Legislator" four years in a row. From there, he went on to win two elections to become Mayor of Tainan (2010 and 2014), winning his second race by a staggering 45 percentage points.

Lai's rise to national prominence came in 2017, when he was selected to serve as Premier following the resignation of Lin Chuan. His appointment brought a much needed boost of popularity to Tsai Ing-wen's administration, boosting approval ratings from a dismal 30 percent in August 2017 to a much more robust 46 percent by September. Over his tenure, his approval ratings continued to increased, with 69 percent of the public approving of his performance by October. Nevertheless, Lai would resign from the Premiership on 11 January 2019 after the DPP's devastating defeat in the 2018 Local Elections, which saw the DPP lose a staggering seven seats to the KMT.

Following his resignation from the Premiership, Lai announced that he would be running a primary challenge against President Tsai--the first time in Taiwanese history that a sitting President faced a serious primary challenge. Ultimately, Lai would be defeated by Tsai, though the popular support he garnered from the public earned him a spot as Tsai's running mate. The Tsai-Lai ticket went on to win the 2020 election in an unexpected landslide victory.

With Tsai term-limited, Lai was seen by many as the natural candidate of the DPP, having maintained his popularity over the four years of the Tsai administration. Though he faced some primary challengers, notably from the Mayor of Taoyuan and former Minister of the Government Information Office Cheng Wen-tsan, Lai easily won the party's nomination in 2023.

Lai's campaign platform is largely seen as a continuation of Tsai's administration. Lai has advocated for a continuation of the New Southbound Policy, aimed at increasing Taiwan's ties with other Asian and Oceanic countries, as well as the beginning of an additional New Northbound Policy, which would focus on improving ties with other Asian countries like Japan and South Korea. As part of these policies, Lai is also hoping to attract further migration to help offset the looming Taiwanese demographic collapse and increase the pool of skilled workers in Taiwan. Domestically, Lai has also stated that he would make English an official language of the Republic of China by the end of his first term in 2028. He has also moderated his position on nuclear power following the referendums of 2021 and 2023, arguing that "a careful consideration of the risks and benefits is necessary before proceeding."

The Kuomintang Candidate: Hou Yu-ih

Hou Yu-ih, 67, is the current Mayor of New Taipei City (first elected in 2018) and the former Director-General of the National Police Agency (from 2006 to 2008). Before entering politics, Hou served as a police officer in Taipei City before becoming an inspector at the National Police Agency's Criminal Investigations Bureau. He went on to become Taoyuan County police chief in 2001, and then the leader of the CIB in 2003.

His entrance to politics came in 2010, when Eric Chu tapped him to become deputy mayor of New Taipei City. Hou became a member of the KMT in 2013 (after having let his membership lapse while working in the police force). He continued to serve as Deputy Mayor up until October 2015, when he was promoted to acting Mayor of New Taipei City following Chu's resignation in advance of the 2016 Presidential Election (which he would lose to Tsai Ing-wen). After completing the remainder of Chu's term, Hou stood for election on his own in 2018, winning handily with 57 percent of the vote, and again in 2022.

After a competitive primary between himself, Jaw Shaw-kong, and former Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou, Hou emerged victorious as the KMT's candidate for the 2024 Presidential Elections. His platform is focused on improving cross-strait relations with Beijing, who he claims have been coaxed into a more aggressive posture by the action's of the Tsai Administration. A signature proposal includes the construction of a bridge between the Kinmen Islands and the Mainland. Domestically, Hou has focused on reducing pollution and decreasing energy prices by expanding Taiwan's nuclear power plants in a "safe and responsible manner." He has also opposed the existing legislation that allows for the creation of casinos in Taiwan, arguing that they will be used as a front for money laundering and criminal activity.

2024 Legislative Yuan Elections

2024 Presidential Elections

• Voter Turnout: 76.3%

Lai Ching-te has been elected as the 8th President of the Republic of China!

Taiwan also held mayoral elections in 2022. The person reporting the results is getting kind of sick of elections, so we're just going to report whether it was a hold or a flip below. Sorry.

2022 Local Elections