Politics

Taiwan's President-elect Lai Ching-te smiles as he attends a rally outside the headquarters of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taipei, Taiwan on 13 January 2024, after winning the presidential election. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP)

Taiwanese commentator: How William Lai can be a good Taiwan president

With William Lai as Taiwan’s president-elect, commentator Chen Kuohsiang delves into what the DPP needs to do to cope with losing its parliamentary majority, navigate cross-strait relations and win over the Taiwanese people.
People walk inside the Constitución train station in Buenos Aires, on 9 January 2024. (Luis Robayo/AFP)

Why has Argentina declined to join BRICS?

After the new government led by President Javier Milei took office in December 2023, it pulled Argentina out from joining BRICS in January 2024. On the one hand, this would please Milei's supporters, on the other it paves the way for greater economic opportunities with the US, while leaving the door open to joining the grouping in the future.
Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's president-elect (centre), at an election night rally outside the Democratic Progressive Party headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan, on 13 January 2024. (An Rong Xu/Bloomberg)

William Lai’s biggest challenge will be Xi Jinping and Ko Wen-je

With the Taiwan presidential elections at a close and the Democratic Progressive Party clinching a historic third consecutive term, commentator Gu Erde takes a look at the challenges ahead for president-elect William Lai.
Taiwan President-elect Lai Ching-te, of Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim attend a rally following the victory in the presidential elections, in Taipei, Taiwan, 13 January 2024. (Ann Wang/Reuters)

Will William Lai’s win spark war in the Taiwan Strait?

With the Democratic Progressive Party's William Lai winning the Taiwan presidential election, there are concerns that Lai's future moves might provoke mainland China into extreme actions. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Yu Zeyuan weighs up the possibilities.
Climate activists protest after a draft of a negotiation deal was released, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 13 December 2023. (Rula Rouhana/Reuters)

China has reasons to smile about the COP28 climate summit

Erik Baark takes stock of China’s gains at COP28 in Dubai in December 2023. The status of China in the negotiations was clearly enhanced by the compromise achieved by the US and China with the Sunnylands Statement in November 2023. On the difficult matter of establishing an international consensus on the approach to fossil fuels, China also seems to have found room to manoeuvre in the call for countries to commit to “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems”.
This handout photo from the Armed Forces of the Philippines taken on 4 January 2024 shows a pilot executing a final check in a Philippine Navy AW109 helicopter on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson during the second iteration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Indo-Pacific Command Military Cooperative Activity in the South China Sea. (Handout/Armed Forces of the Philippines/AFP)

China’s naval defence gains priority amid US’s aggressive Indo-Pacific strategy

Academic Chen Gang notes that China’s appointment of its first defence minister with a naval background highlights the priority it has set for its military development. Given the US’s aggressive Indo-Pacific maritime strategy, China is responding in kind, leading to "grey rhino" that could spark a war.
People ride past a campaign ad for William Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's vice-president and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate and Justin Wu, local parliament member candidate for the ruling DPP ahead of the election in Taipei, Taiwan, on 12 January 2024. (Ann Wang/Reuters)

Taiwan presidential election: A dull but important affair

With the Taiwan presidential election nearing its climactic end, Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong notes there has been nothing fresh with election rhetoric, leading to a dull affair. Nonetheless, the election carries a lot of weight given its potential impact on cross-strait and China-US relations.
People listen to Ko Wen-je, Taiwan presidential candidate from the opposition Taiwan People's Party (TPP), in front of Ko and his running mate Cynthia Wu’s advertisement at the Jhong Yi Taoist temple in New Taipei City on 10 January 2024. (Sam Yeh/AFP)

Taiwan's elections heading towards new era of intergenerational rivalry

As Taiwan’s presidential election nears, young people's concerns about domestic social issues is becoming a significant voting factor. NUS academic Lu Xi notes that Ko Wen-Je’s popularity among youths and the change in political discourse since Tsai Ing-wen’s “four commitments” has shown that the dilemma over reunification and independence has taken a backseat and could thus pose a challenge to mainland China’s reunification strategy.
Supporters of Islami Andolan Bangladesh party attend a protest rally demanding to abolish what they call a "dummy election" and to reorganise a free and fair election under the caretaker government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 9 January 2024. (Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters)

China and India unfazed by Bangladesh's one-sided elections

Bangladesh’s ruling government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was easily returned to power on 7 January. While the US has often criticised Bangladesh's elections as not being free and fair, its close neighbours China and India seem prepared to focus on Bangladesh’s strategic value in increasing their regional influence.