Congratulations to Taiwan President-elect Lai Ching-te and Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim

On Saturday, January 13, the people of Taiwan elected Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim, both of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), to serve as their next President and Vice President at an inauguration that will take place on May 20. ALEC has had the honor of hosting Vice President-elect Hsiao several times as a speaker at our conferences, and we are confident that Taiwan is in safe hands with Lai and Hsiao at the helm. ALEC has sent an official letter congratulating the victors – read it here.

This is the first time since Taiwan began holding presidential elections in 1996 that the same political party will hold office for three consecutive terms, and the DPP victory sends a strong message to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that Taiwan is determined to defend their democracy and the cross-Strait status quo. Of the three parties that fielded presidential candidates this weekend – the other two are the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) – the DPP typically adopts the strongest posture when engaging with the PRC.

The DPP victory at the presidential level suggests that the PRC’s attempts to influence Taiwanese voters in the weeks leading up to the election failed miserably. With each election cycle, Beijing launches disinformation and intimidation campaigns, and this one was more assertive than most with PRC leadership describing Lai as a “destroyer of peace” and a propaganda publication filled with dubious but incendiary claims about outgoing President Tsai.

“On behalf of the American Legislative Exchange Council, I congratulate President-elect Lai Ching-te and Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim on their victory in Saturday’s elections in Taiwan. Then Ambassador Hsiao was a frequent speaker at ALEC conferences where she spoke eloquently on the US-Taiwan partnership and defending Taiwan’s democracy. The people of Taiwan are in safe hands with Lai and Hsiao at the helm.”
–ALEC CEO Lisa B. Nelson

“Congratulations to President-elect Lai Ching-te and Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim on their victory in Taiwan’s 2024 presidential election. We applaud the Taiwanese people for showing their strength and commitment to their democracy and sovereignty. Freedom was the focus of every talk then Ambassador Hsiao delivered to ALEC members for whom Taiwan serves as a beacon of democratic hope in the Asia-Pacific.”
–ALEC Federalism and International Relations Senior Director Karla Jones

Media Coverage

• The Epoch Times: Beijing Fails to Sway Taiwan amid War Threats. What’s Next?
  • ALEC Federalism and International Relations Senior Director Karla Jones is quoted in The Epoch Times, where she observes that the best way for Taiwan to avoid conflict with the PRC is “to show clarity of purpose, and that’s where strategic ambiguity has failed. It’s led China to believe that Taiwan isn’t as important to American as it is.” She continues that “America takes its partnership with Taiwan seriously and it takes the Taiwan Relations Act seriously.”

Videos

• Celebrating Women’s History Month: A Hopeful Message from Taiwan’s Ambassador Bi-khim Hsiao
• Taiwan’s Ambassador Bi-khim Hsiao – A Statesman and a Former Lawmaker – Addressed ALEC’s Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah
• 2020 ALEC International Pioneer Award Goes to Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen

Commentary

• In a Year of Pivotal Elections Taiwan’s Is One of the Most Consequential
• Speaker Pelosi’s Visit to Taipei Telegraphs Congressional Support for Taiwan’s Sovereignty
• A US-Taiwan Bilateral Trade Agreement Is a State Priority
• Taiwan’s Crackdown on Hong Kong Paved the Way for Taiwan President’s Re-Election

Press Releases

• ALEC Congratulates President-elect Lai Ching-te and Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim on Election Win in Taiwan
• The US-Taiwan BTA Coalition Welcomes the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) as a New Member
• Hundreds of State Legislators Urge Support for US Trade Agreement with Taiwan

Model Policies

• Resolution Supporting a US-Taiwan Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income
• Resolution Supporting Taiwan’s Meaningful Participation in International Organizations Including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Interpol
• Taiwan Friendship Caucus Resolution
• Resolution Urging the United States to Invite Taiwan to Join the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
• Resolution Urging US Universities to Relocate Chinese Language Programs from Mainland China to Taiwan
• Resolution to Prioritize Strengthening the U.S.-Taiwan Partnership to Enhance Global Supply Chain Security and Resilience
• Resolution Supporting the United States in Signing a Bilateral Trade Agreement with Taiwan
• Reaffirmation of the US Commitment to Taiwan on the 40^th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act
• Resolution in Support of the Taiwan Travel Act