Lai Ching-te’s presidency is only 10 days old, but already the Taiwanese leader is facing turmoil from a divided parliament and China’s expanding military power.
The trouble began from the outset when Beijing blasted his inauguration speech as a “confession of Taiwan independence” and threatened counter measures. China deems the democracy of some 23 million people a breakaway province and has vowed to take it back.
Almost immediately, China unleashed its biggest drills around Taiwan in a year, encircling its main and outlying islands in a signal of how the People’s Liberation Army might deploy in the event of an invasion. Beijing had been relatively quiet after Lai’s January election win, with analysts saying officials were waiting for his opening speech.
If Lai thought the conclusion of those two-day drills would bring respite he was wrong: On Tuesday, his ruling Democratic Progressive Party lost a marathon vote as opposition groups passed an amended law that effectively clipped his presidential authority — and sparked the biggest street protests in years.
The reforms give lawmakers enhanced powers to investigate government policies. That has fanned fears the Kuomintang, which favors eventual unification with China, could expose secretive defense deals by demanding access to confidential documents.
While the KMT has dismissed such concerns as “fake news,” the debate underscores the sensitivity around the global chip hub’s military sector.
It’s important for Lai to keep the trust of foreign friends, as he tries to bolster his island’s ability to build its own defense hardware. Taipei unveiled a prototype last year for its first domestically assembled military submarine, an effort that hinged on help from overseas.
If the US and other allies were hoping his presidency would usher in an era of calm, his first days in power have been a reality check.— Jenni Marsh