President William Lai (賴清德) and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) were officially sworn into office yesterday morning, becoming the fifth democratically elected leaders of Taiwan and launching the nation’s 16th presidential term. It was a momentous occasion, as it is the first time a party is to govern for a third consecutive term since direct presidential elections began in 1996. It is also the first time in 16 years that no party has a majority in the Legislative Yuan.
Much has been made in the lead-up to the inauguration about Lai’s reputation as a “pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence” and Beijing’s “troublemaker” moniker. The legislature also put its divisions on dramatic display on Friday last week, as news channels worldwide showed footage of brawls, lawmakers falling on their heads and another absconding with documents.
It was within this context that Lai took to the podium outside the Presidential Office and prepared to set the tone for his four years in office. His speech sought to directly address these concerns by emphasizing cross-strait peace and cooperation among political parties.
The first item in Lai’s speech was an appeal to opposition parties to work with ruling party lawmakers and the executive branch. He emphasized that the political structure is the choice of Taiwanese, who “have high expectations for rational governance.” Coming only days after chaos erupted in the legislature over controversial reform bills, Lai’s comments read as pointed and urgent. Whether they will fall on deaf ears remains to be seen.
The other matters under intense scrutiny are cross-strait issues. In his address, Lai leaned heavily into expectations for peace, using the word 23 times.
“As with other nations, Taiwan walked a difficult path for post-war revitalization before getting to where we are today. No one wants these achievements to be destroyed by war,” he said.
The emphasis is a response to critics who fear Lai would be a destabilizing presence in office. Compared with his predecessors, Lai’s reputation frees him from needing to take a tough stance against China. Instead, he can extend goodwill without concern that the “pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence” is reneging on his principles. He called on Beijing to “choose dialogue over confrontation,” and that the two governments could start by resuming cross-strait tourism and enrollment of Chinese students at Taiwanese institutions. Giving a concrete suggestion is a calculated step toward striking a conciliatory tone with Beijing, but it would likely be too tepid to appease his critics until real policies are deployed.
Lai reiterated calls for Beijing to “face the reality of the Republic of China’s existence” and cease its intimidation. He also reiterated his “Four Pillars of Peace” proposed last year to strengthen national defense, improve economic security, provide stable and principled leadership, and engage in values-based diplomacy. Taken as a whole, his comments on cross-strait affairs show that Lai would lean a little harder into reconciliation than former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), while continuing her rhetoric. A seasoned politician, Lai knows he needs to downplay his reputation to ease concerns at home and abroad.
On domestic issues, Lai highlighted Taiwan’s dominance in semiconductors and his administration’s goal of incorporating artificial intelligence into all facets of society. He also touched on vowed to tackle issues ranging from housing to low salaries and transportation safety through a “National Project of Hope.” A framework we can expect to hear more about over his term.
His presidency has only just started, and Lai is already facing a fractured legislature and intense international scrutiny. From his inaugural address, it seems Taiwan can look forward to a measured presence in the Presidential Office.
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