Taipei: Taiwan’s vote counters had barely finished tallying up the ballots on Saturday when the island’s next president, Lai Ching-te, began talking about the other elections on his mind.

Lai, who won an unprecedented third-successive term for the Democratic Progressive Party through a campaign based on resisting Chinese Communist Party aggression towards Taiwan, acknowledged in his victory speech that his was just the first of the “most highly anticipated elections of 2024”.

A montage of Taiwan president-elect Lai Ching-te and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. Credit: Nathan Perri

Indonesia will go to the polls to elect its new leader in February, India will follow in April, and the United Kingdom most likely in the second half of this year.

But it is the US presidential ballot in November that is at the forefront of diplomats’ minds in Taipei and around the world.

Former US president Donald Trump is the clear favourite to secure the Republican nomination after a resounding victory at the Iowa caucuses on Tuesday.

A YouGov national poll of Democrat and Republican voters published in The Economist on Wednesday had the 77-year-old almost tied with President Joe Biden, 43 per cent to Biden’s 44 per cent.

Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 2019 G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.Credit: AP

Despite facing dozens of criminal charges for attempting to subvert the 2020 election, Trump has the momentum as the Republican primaries head to New Hampshire this week. His re-election would have significant implications for Taiwan and the Asia Pacific.

Trump’s first term marked a significant hardening in US relations with China after a relatively sanguine period during the Obama administration.

QOSHE - ‘Crazy decisions’: What a Trump victory could mean for Taiwan - Eryk Bagshaw
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‘Crazy decisions’: What a Trump victory could mean for Taiwan

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21.01.2024

Taipei: Taiwan’s vote counters had barely finished tallying up the ballots on Saturday when the island’s next president, Lai Ching-te, began talking about the other elections on his mind.

Lai, who won an unprecedented third-successive term for the Democratic Progressive Party through a campaign based on resisting Chinese Communist Party aggression towards Taiwan, acknowledged in his victory speech that his was just the first of the........

© The Sydney Morning Herald


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