The DPP’s presidential candidate is Lai Ching-te, a former legislator and vice president of Tsai Ing-wen, who cannot seek a third term due to constitutional limitations. Lai will face the rival Kuomintang (KMT)’s Hou Yu-ih and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP)’s Ko Wen-je, a major threat to both parties.
If elected, Lai Ching-te will continue to seek deeper ties to the United States to offset the China threat.
Beijing will likely resume talks with Taipei should the KMT or TPP win the presidency, while disapproving of Lai in the case of a DPP win.
Despite Xi’s desire to bring Taiwan under Beijing’s control and a growing threat to the island, outright hostilities remain unlikely.
Japan will continue to increase cooperation with Taipei and Washington to bolster its own defences against possible Chinese aggression.
