It is the first time since Taiwan’s first direct presidential election in 1996 that a party has won more than two consecutive presidential elections. Rather than being excited, I am concerned about the vote share. Among the three presidential candidates and their running mates, the Lai-Hsiao ticket should have been our only choice in terms of experience, ability, words, deeds, attitude and so on. However, their vote share failed to exceed the total of the KMT and TPP candidates, which means that Taiwanese are not as persistent on sovereignty and self-governance. Hong Tsun-ming, originally from Hong Kong, is a specialist in the Taiwan Statebuilding Party’s international section.

TPP wants speaker to back reformsTHIRD FORCE: With no party holding a legislative majority, the TPP said it would use its eight seats to back a speaker who would be held accountable and promote transparencyStaff writer, with CNATaiwan People’s Party (TPP) lawmakers yesterday said that before backing a legislative speaker, they would assess candidates’ support for transparency and oversight reforms. The new batch of lawmakers are to be sworn in on Feb. 1 and elect a legislative speaker. Newly elected Taiwan People’s Party legislators hold placards at a news conference at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday. A legislative speaker should be required to give a detailed account of how they spent their stipend and not be allowed to label such expenses as “sensitive” or “classified” information, he added. Regarding whether Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫?)

Tsai, politicians mourn pioneer Shih Ming-teStaff writer, with CNAPresident Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and other politicians yesterday mourned the passing of veteran democracy activist Shih Ming-te (施明德). Shih, a former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman, died at the age of 83 yesterday after battling cancer for years. In a Facebook post, Tsai described Shih as a pioneer of democracy and human rights who devoted himself to the democratic movement during Taiwan’s authoritarian period. Democracy advocate Shih Ming-te is pictured in Taipei on Dec. 10, 2018. “Former chairman Shih was a trailblazer for democracy, a staunch defender of human rights, and a wise and courageous politician,” Lai said.

EDITORIAL: Economic challenges await LaiWith Vice President William Lai (賴清德) winning the presidential election, but his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) failing to secure a majority in the legislature on Saturday, his administration is poised to face challenges over the next four years. Unlike the other two candidates who talked about restarting ECFA negotiations with China, Lai focused on assisting local industries through digital transformation and advocates innovation-driven models to improve firms’ operations. The government’s incentive packages also led to 1,400 companies investing more than NT$2.1 trillion in Taiwan from 2019 to last year. Due to changes in global politics and economic situations, Taiwanese industries face pressure to transform. Furthermore, the difficult tasks of accelerating wage growth, creating jobs for young people and promoting talent development also await him.

2024 Elections Reporter’s notebook: Questions on Ko, others’ post-election roles in the TPPBy Huang Ching-hsuan / Staff reporterIt remains to be seen whether there is a future for the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), seen by some as a one-man party centered on its chairman, Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), and whether he could settle the differences among in-party factions. The large crowd at the TPP’s election-eve campaign rally on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei also demonstrated Ko supporters’ strong cohesion. By winning 22.07 percent of the party votes in the legislative elections, the TPP secured eight legislator-at-large seats — fewer than its initial expectation. For one, former TPP secretary-general Hsieh Li-kung (謝立功) says Ko’s campaign chief of staff Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) ought to be held accountable for the election results. Aside from those who predominate the party’s legislative caucus — legislator-at-large-elects Vivian Huang (黃珊珊), Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) and Lin Kuo-cheng (林國成) — there are still unclear variables.

KMT wins 52 legislative seats, DPP bags 51 and TPP eightTHREE AT LARGE: Only the DPP, KMT and TPP crossed the threshold to receive legislator-at-large seats, with the DPP and KMT each winning 13 and the TPP eightBy Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporterNo party won a majority of legislative seats in yesterday’s elections, with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) taking 51 seats and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) taking 52 seats. Former KMT legislator Yen Kuan-heng (顏寬恆) — accused by his opponent, DPP Legislator Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀), of corruption and dishonest property declarations — won in Taichung’s second electoral district. Photo: CNAThe KMT’s Sean Liao (廖偉翔), another candidate endorsed by both the KMT and TPP, beat incumbent DPP Legislator Chang Liao Wan-chien (張廖萬堅) to win Taichung’s first electoral district. Among the 16 parties that submitted legislator-at-large candidate lists, only three — the DPP, the KMT and the TPP — crossed the 5-percentage-point threshold to be awarded seats in the legislature. The KMT received 13 seats through 34.58 percent of party votes, while the TPP won eight seats with 22.07 percent of party votes.

A Taiwan People’s Party supporter wipes away tears during a rally at the party’s headquarters in New Taipei City yesterday. Ko said the party has achieved the impossible by running its election campaign solely with small donations, and the model would have a positive impact on the nation’s political development. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je, center, bows to his supporters at a rally in New Taipei City last night. While he did not directly concede defeat, Ko said: “We must work hard for Taiwan’s future and save our future by ourselves. She said that although political talk shows constantly attacked Ko, he continued to fight back.

Presidential Election: Lai’s victory sparks jubilationSTART-TO-END LEAD: Taiwanese have defended their democratic system against external forces that have attempted to influence the vote, Lai saidCrowds packed the streets around the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) headquarters in Taipei last night to celebrate its victory in the presidential election, giving Vice President William Lai (賴清德) and his party the mandate to lead Taiwan for the next four years. The ticket of Lai and former representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) led from the initial tallies in the afternoon right through the evening. Democratic Progressive Party supporters cheer at a victory rally at the party’s headquarters in Taipei last night. Democratic Progressive Party supporters hold flags and signs at a victory rally at the party’s headquarters in Taipei last night. Third, the DPP Lai-Hsiao ticket received the most support, with the most votes among the three political parties in the presidential race, he said.

At a press conference, Ko was questioned about strained cross-strait relations and how he would navigate this situation alongside Taiwan’s ties with the US if elected. Ko said that the US is Taiwan’s most important ally and also the most powerful country in the world. Taiwan People’s Party presidential candidate Ko Wen-je and his running mate Cynthia Wu are pictured during a news conference in Taipei yesterday. The TPP’s approach would involve prioritizing seamless communications with the US to prevent any unexpected developments, thereby establishing a foundation of mutual trust, he said. “Among the current trio of candidates, Ko Wen-je is the only person who is acceptable to both China and the United States.

2024 Elections: Expect pressure: officialsBy Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard / ReutersChina is likely to attempt to put pressure on Taiwan’s incoming president after the nation goes to the polls today, including staging military maneuvers near the country this spring, two senior government officials said. No matter which candidate wins the presidential election, Beijing’s military and economic pressure on Taiwan’s next president is likely to increase, officials speaking on condition of anonymity said. The Taiwanese official said Beijing could also opt to limit any show of military force in the coming months because of considerations including improving US-China relations. Should a party that wins the presidency fail to gain a legislative majority, China is likely to label the new administration a “minority government,” the Taiwanese official said. “China’s voting interference in Taiwan is a textbook example,” the first Taiwanese official said.

Ad brings welcome perspectiveBy Knight Chang 張天泰With Taiwan’s presidential election fast approaching, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) released a campaign advertisement for its presidential candidate Vice President William Lai (賴清德) and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴). The ad, on the theme of “On the Road,” has been viewed and “liked” by a huge number of people across various social media platforms. After a while the car stops, Tsai gets out and in steps Hsiao, as Lai takes the wheel. After Tsai bids them farewell, Lai and Hsiao drive off, while talking about what direction they should take from now on. That might be true, but I would also say that we must not overlook the trends among Taiwan’s swing voters.

EDITORIAL: Taiwan not in safe hands with KoAs the presidential election enters the final countdown, all three tickets are using every second to woo votes. Fed up with the long-term rivalry and conflict between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), they find Ko and his party “less detestable” than the others. Taiwan would not have the freedom it has today if not for the relentless efforts paid in blood by DPP democracy advocates. Only with President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) eight years of exceptional diplomatic and domestic leadership has Taiwan become Asia’s top democracy and economy. If Taiwan and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電) were to fall into the hands of China, Taiwan would find itself on the US sanctions list.

2024 Elections: Ko rejects Jaw DPP appealBy Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNATaiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday said that pan-green camp politicians would not be excluded from his coalition government if he is elected. Ko was responding to an appeal by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) vice presidential candidate and Broadcasting Corp of China chairman Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康) to renounce all cooperation with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) if he becomes president. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je, right, greets supporters in Taipei yesterday. Supporters of Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je and vice presidential candidate Cynthia Wu hold signs in Taipei yesterday. “Ko’s consistent arrogance and ignorance revealed that he does not have the temperament and character to be a presidential candidate,” Chang said.

Failed Han should not be speakerBy Lin Bo-feng 林伯峰The Kaohsiung Metro’s circular light rail line has finally been completed, with the soft opening of its final section on Dec. 31 last year. This moment had been delayed for two years, mostly because of former Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), who was in office for a year and a half without achieving anything. Instead of getting on with his job as mayor, he stood as the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) candidate in the 2020 presidential election. Taken together, Han’s presidential election defeat, embarrassing recall vote and the defeat of the KMT’s candidate to replace him add up to three “no” votes for Han. Despite his triple rejection, the KMT regards Han as a major asset.

Cargo rates surge after Red Sea attacksGLOBAL SHIPPING: Rates for Asia to North Europe have more than doubled to above US$4,000 per 40-foot container, with Asia to Mediterranean prices climbing to US$5,175 Ocean freight rates are surging after a missile attack and attempted hijacking of a ship operated by AP Moller-Maersk A/S over the weekend prompted carriers to suspend plans to restart transits through the Red Sea, a key artery to the vital Suez Canal trade route. Yemen-based Houthi militants have been attacking high-value cargo vessels in the Red Sea since November last year in a show of support for Palestinian Islamist group Hamas fighting Israel in Gaza. It has forced ships to reroute around the southern tip of Africa, driving costs for vessels for the longer voyage, although rates are still far