In the parliamentary and presidential elections to be held in Taiwan this Saturday, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will fight for an unprecedented third term. Lai Ching-te, who served as vice president for the past several years, is running for president on behalf of the group. Lai described the vote as “a choice between democracy and autocracy.” Argues that he is the only candidate who can protect Taiwan's autonomy from growing threats from China. Therefore, it wants to strengthen the island's defense, get closer to the United States and reduce economic dependence on the Middle Kingdom, the country's largest trading partner. Exports to China and Hong Kong accounted for 35.2 percent. Taiwan's total overseas sales in 2023, the local Ministry of Finance reported. The United States is in second place.

Chun-Yi Lee of the University of Nottingham emphasized in an interview with DGP that in the past, Lai had publicly taken a more expressive position on the issue of Taiwan independence. – There are doubts that he will return to the independence narrative if he wins the election. This would be considered a dangerous signal, he said. According to experts, he will try to maintain the status quo.

President Xi Jinping recalled in his New Year's speech that “China's unification with Taiwan is inevitable.” The Middle Kingdom has long maintained the narrative that the island's independence would lead to war. – Peace is precious, and war has no winners. Peace without sovereignty is like Hong Kong. This is a false peace, Lai commented at a press conference this week. However, he emphasized that he would remain open to cooperation with Beijing as long as it was carried out on an equal basis. In the eyes of PRC authorities, Lai is a separatist.