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Opinion | Taiwan election 2024: why the DPP is facing an uphill battle
- Since Tsai Ing-wen came to power, Taiwan has attracted more Western political attention but the government has faltered in many domestic policy areas
- Younger voters are deserting the ruling DPP, and the party’s presidential candidate faces widespread discontent
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With less than two months to go before Taiwan’s presidential election, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is facing problems.
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While Taiwanese Vice-President and DPP presidential candidate William Lai Ching-te remains the front runner, a recent poll shows his lead is slipping. This might come as a surprise to some, but the fact is that the DPP has done a mediocre job in many vital areas, even as the island’s situation becomes more precarious.
With Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen espousing a hard line on mainland China since she came to power in 2016, Taiwan has attracted more international media coverage and visits from Western politicians in the past few years.
Yet Taiwan has become less secure as Beijing intensifies military exercises and flights around the island. Last August, US House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei was followed by days of People’s Liberation Army drills around Taiwan.
Tsai’s government has not been as successful with non-Western nations. Taiwan has only 13 diplomatic partners left, having lost nine to Beijing since Tsai came to power.
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Taiwan’s presidential front runner Lai Ching-te picks de facto envoy to US as running mate
Taiwan’s presidential front runner Lai Ching-te picks de facto envoy to US as running mate
The New Southbound Policy, Tsai’s flagship initiative to promote economic diversification towards 16 Asian countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand, has not been a major success. Taiwan’s top trading partner remains mainland China, by a large margin.
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