Charles Burton is a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, non-resident senior fellow of the European Values Center for Security Policy in Prague, and former diplomat at Canada’s embassy in Beijing. He is in Taiwan as a member of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy’s International Election Observation Delegation.

It was a privilege to be an official observer for Saturday’s national election, witnessing Taiwanese democracy in all its beauty, comedy, looming tragedy – and a high degree of civility that puts Canada’s toxic political culture to shame.

As 2024 unfolds in a world of rising conflict and turmoil, Taiwan’s closely watched vote is the first significant geopolitical statement in a year that will see a record number of global elections. Democracy watchers are nervous after 2023 saw far-right parties elected in places like the Netherlands and Argentina, even making inroads in traditionally liberal Finland. Then there’s the possibility of Donald Trump retaking the White House later this year.

Despite dark threats from Beijing, voters in Taiwan ultimately retained a government that will not compromise on China’s autocratic demands. Unfortunately, the cruel irony is that China’s threats to........

© The Globe and Mail