The nomination of former representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) as Vice President William Lai’s (賴清德) running mate for the presidential election has sparked wide discussion among Taiwanese over the past few weeks. Some attribute Taiwan’s ever-growing relations with the US to her exceptional diplomatic prowess, and other supporters are also optimistic that she can further polish Taiwan’s image in the international community in the next four years.
Yet what exactly can Hsiao contribute to Taiwan’s future as a prospective vice president? Looking at her extraordinary feats during her tenure in Washington and Lai’s duty as the incumbent vice president, we may derive some answers.
While Lai, the Democratic Progressive Party’s presidential candidate, is more experienced in handling internal affairs, Hsiao’s expertise in foreign policy could well play a complementary role if they are elected. Widely acknowledged as an influential ambassador by foreign media, Hsiao ensured Taiwan-US relations made major progress when she signed the first agreement of the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, enabling Taiwan’s local businesses to be integrated into the global market.
Hsiao also endeavored in helping to secure millions of COVID-19 vaccines from the US government during the most serious phase of the pandemic, which consequently rendered Taiwan more immune to the global economic stagnation most other nations suffered.
Through her unrelenting efforts in fostering robust cooperation between the two allies, Hsiao has acquired massive acclaim as the most eminent Taiwanese diplomat to Washington and thus the most competent candidate for the election.
Nevertheless, some people still believe that she would exert little influence in an administration led by Lai due to the lack of substantive power vice presidents have. To dispel such skepticism, some of Lai’s accomplishments since 2020 should be scrutinized.
In July last year, Lai attend the funeral of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated. He was the highest-ranking sitting Taiwanese official to enter Japan since the 1990s. Subsequently, many people expressed gratitude to the vice president online, emphasizing that Taiwanese would always provide unwavering support to Japan during difficult times. Although the government did not recognize it as an official trip, it was still broadly perceived as a milestone that further strengthened the already solid relation between the two nations.
The interaction between the vice president and US Vice President Kamala Harris in Honduras also attracted tremendous media attention. After then-Honduran president-elect Xiomara Castro won the election last year, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) appointed Lai as the envoy to attend her inauguration ceremony.
At the ceremony, Lai and Harris exchanged brief remarks on the common interests of Taiwan and the US. It was the first time that both nations’ vice presidents were publicly seen holding a conversation at an international event. Many regard this incident as a significant breakthrough in Taiwan’s diplomatic plight — something that had been unachievable in previous decades and has had a long-lasting impact on bilateral relations.
During his three years as vice president, Lai has elevated Taiwan’s status and popularity worldwide, which proves that the position is not as titular as many might assume. Should he become president in May next year, he could then shift his work from diplomatic missions to managing domestic affairs with his extensive experience as a former premier and Tainan mayor.
Simultaneously, Hsiao’s competence in foreign affairs might well synergize with Lai’s executive abilities, potentially navigating Taiwan along a brighter diplomatic pathway amid Chinese coercion.
Above all, regardless of which pair of candidates wins the election, the next government should continue striving to expand its diplomatic network so as to safeguard the security and stability of all 23.5 million inhabitants of Taiwan.
Tshua Siu-ui is a Taiwanese student studying international relations and politics in Norwich, England.
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