The presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan have concluded. The entire world was watching Taiwanese make their own decision. Several Japanese newspapers covered the election and its aftermath on their front pages.
One of Japan’s leading national daily newspapers, the Yomiuri Shimbun, described the election as “a demonstration of Taiwanese public opinion on the alert from China.” The Yomiuri editorial said that despite being under great pressure from China, Taiwanese still decided to continue with their Democratic Progressive Party government.
The editorial urged China to respect the opinion of Taiwanese, saying that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) should refrain from threatening Taiwan through cultural infiltration and the People’s Liberation Army’s military might. It also said that president-elect William Lai (賴清德) would carry on President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) strategy, which is to face China with neither provocation nor submissiveness and to confront Beijing with self-assertion and confidence.
It also said that the Tsai-Lai strategy would deepen relations with the US and enhance Taiwan’s national defense to protect the “status quo.” In contrast, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and its candidates, knowing Beijing’s intention of making Taiwan a part of China, still catered to China. The KMT’s lack of autonomy compelled voters to vote for Lai.
Likewise, the Nikkei Shimbun editorial said that Taiwanese wanted to keep distance from China, and such an opinion must be respected. The Nikkei editorial said that Lai being elected Taiwan’s next president shows that “democratic Taiwan wants to keep its distance from autocratic China.” It said that since Taiwan has been a democracy for more than 25 years, freedom of speech and a robust political environment have been a part of the country for some time. The Nikkei editorial indicated that China should recognize such a reality without ignoring the changes in Taiwan.
The Sankei Shimbun editorial said that Taiwanese demonstrated how a democratic system in full bloom works. According to the Sankei editorial, the election was meaningful, especially at a moment when China clearly shows its intention to annex Taiwan. The Sankei editorial also sent a warning to president-elect Lai, reminding him that “China is not a democratic country, it does not abide by law and it only believes in power.” The editorial said that if Taiwan wanted to negotiate with an autocratic country such as China to keep peace in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan must enhance its self-defense capabilities.
Russia’s war against Ukraine continues. Particularly at this moment, Taiwan has become a symbol for the world of defending democracy, and it is only natural that the world should pay more attention to Taiwan’s presidential election and what might follow. Newspapers and news media around the world have been reporting the event. Numerous journalists came to Taiwan to cover the election. On the other hand, China has tried every means of blocking such information and news. Nothing related to Taiwan’s elections could be found on the Chinese microblogging site Sina Weibo.
Taiwan’s democracy is functioning smoothly. Before the election, hundreds of thousands of people gathered for the candidates, shouting, yelling, singing along with the crashing and beating of gongs and drums. The election campaigns are indeed carnivalesque, but after the election ends, all the clamor and noise eventually comes to an end. Life goes on as usual. Such a free and democratic Taiwan is indeed like a thorn in China’s side.
Wang Hui-sheng is the chief director of the Kisei Ladies’ and Children’s Hospital in Japan.
Translated by Emma Liu
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