Taiwan: Mr. William Lai, the frontrunner for the presidency in Taiwan’s 2024 election, has announced Ms. Hsiao Bi-khim as vice presidential nominee. Ms. Hsiao was Taiwan’s former envoy to the United States.
Mr. Lai, the candidate for the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), commented that 52-year-old Ms. Hsiao was the right person for the job.
In a social media post, the Taiwanese leader noted that he would soon formally present Ms. Hsiao as his running mate. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had accepted Ms. Hsiao’s resignation.
“I believe that Bi-khim is definitely an excellent person when it comes to Taiwan’s diplomatic work today, and she is a rare diplomatic talent in our country,” Mr. Lai shared.
“I am confident that, together with Bi-khim, we will succeed in the final 50 days to unite the consensus of the people and unite all forces to win the election, and allow Taiwan to continue to grow on a steady path forward,” the DPP leader added.
Ms. Hsiao had previously worked in the office of former President Chen Shui-bian, also from the DPP, and then as a party lawmaker.
Taiwan’s election is taking place at a time when Beijing has become increasingly assertive in its claims to the democratic island, which it says is part of China.
The DPP, which won power in 2016 under President Tsai Ing-wen, has said it is up to Taiwan’s people to choose their future.
Recently, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office referred to Mr. Lai and Ms. Hsiao as an “independence double act”, adding that Taiwan’s people were “very clear” about what their partnership meant for the “situation in the Taiwan Strait.”
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