Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) unveiled on Monday its presidential ticket for the upcoming January election, with current Vice President Lai Ching-te accompanied by running mate Hsiao Bi-khim.
The two prominent China skeptics are set to present significant challenges for Beijing’s leadership, which in recent years has alternated between economic incentives and military coercion over the island, which it claims as part of its territory.
Lai, a self-described “pragmatic Taiwan independence worker,” has strategically avoided advocating for formal statehood for the island, a move that could provoke conflict across the Taiwan Strait. His position reflects the careful balancing act required of every candidate in the race.
Hsiao, until her recent step into the contest, served as Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the United States. Her tenure in Washington was marked by effective advocacy for Taiwanese interests and earned her sanctions from China on two occasions.
The symbolism of her diplomatic efforts—and her Taiwanese-American heritage—was highlighted in a recent social media post by Lai, who shared a photo of the pair at the Lincoln Memorial, with a backdrop of the Washington Monument signifying their close ties with the U.S., Taiwan’s strongest international backer.
In a statement, Hsiao criticized China’s assertive military activities in the Taiwan Strait and accused Beijing of interfering in Taiwan’s democratic processes.
“Whether Taiwan can defend its democratic values and determine its own future will have a profound impact not only on Taiwan itself, but on the entire world,” she said.
Beijing, which has long claimed sovereignty over Taiwan despite Taipei’s persistent rejection, argues the Lai-Hsiao ticket would be a move toward independence.
Last week, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson from the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing, suggested their candidacy would further sour relations between Taiwan and China. Zhu described the pair an “independence double act.”
The DPP, which views Taiwan as an independent nation named the Republic of China, has historically refrained from pursuing formal statehood under the name of Taiwan. The stance aligns with U.S. policy, which, while supportive of Taiwan’s democratic government and providing arms for its defense, does not officially endorse Taiwanese independence.
The opposition parties in Taiwan, including the Kuomintang and the Taiwan People’s Party, face a deadline to finalize their joint presidential challenge. This political maneuvering occurs amid an ongoing debate about Taiwan’s trade dependence on China—about a quarter of the island’s annual turnaround—highlighting the complex interplay of economics and politics in the region.
Lai Ching-te, left, Taiwanese presidential candidate from the Democratic Progressive Party, introduces Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan’s representative to the United States, as his running mate in the 2024 election, during a news conference at Lai’s campaign headquarters in Taipei on November 20, 2023.
I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images
Taiwan’s foreign minister, Joseph Wu, said on Monday that he had accepted Hsiao’s resignation as representative to the U.S., lauding her as a “diplomatic icon.” The appointment of her successor in Washington remains uncertain, with an announcement expected post-January.
“It’s to be seen who the DPP picks to replace Hsiao going forward. At the same time as it was speculated that she would become Lai’s vice presidential candidate, as a means of reassuring the U.S. about him, it was also speculated that she may stay in her position for the same purpose,” said Brian Hioe, a Taipei-based political commentator and co-founder of New Bloom magazine.
Lai was already leading the polls before Monday’s announcement. Hsiao—a long-time ally of Taiwan’s current President Tsai Ing-wen—was expected to further boost his favorability among the Taiwanese electorate by joining him on the ballot.
Hsiao could also be lined up to replace Lai if the party remains in power in the future.
Hioe told Newsweek: “While it’s unclear who the DPP would run in the future if Lai serves two terms, naming Hsiao as vice presidential candidate puts her name into the running.”
Lai, who belongs to a different political faction within the DPP, could have his own say in the party’s future presidential candidate, Hioe said. “It is too soon to say, but it does elevate her political stature enormously.”
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