The Geopolitical Implications of Taiwan’s Presidential Elections

US-China relations hinge on the outcome of upcoming elections in Taiwan

Photo by Winston Chen on Unsplash

Six months from now, on January 13 2024, Taiwan will hold presidential elections. Needless to say, these elections carry extremely consequential geopolitical implications and may dictate the future of US-China relations.

Taiwan is a mature, multiparty democracy and the two main candidates hold sharply different views of Taiwan’s proper relationship with The People’s Republic of China.

Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is the current Vice President and represents the stronger pro-independence faction of Taiwanese politics. His main rival, Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomingtang (KMT), supports closer relations between Taipei and Beijing. And this year there is a surprising third party candidate, Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), who is is shaking up what is conventionally a two party presidential contest.

I recently had an in-depth conversation about Taiwanese politics and these upcoming elections with Kharis Templeman, a research f…