Taipei, 13 January 2024 (dpa/MIA) - The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) retained power as its candidate Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, was elected president to replace outgoing president Tsai Ing-Wen.

In Taiwan, this is the first political party to win three consecutive terms since the people of the democratic island country began to directly elect their president in 1996.

Lai, 64, made his announcement after the two leading opposition figures conceded defeat. His running mate is the 52-year-old Hsiao Bi-khim.

The result is expected to irk Beijing due to the DPP's resistance to Chinese rule.

During the campaign, Lai reiterated that Taiwan should be integrated into the wider world community rather than be trapped by China.

Lai told a news conference on Saturday that the result told the world that Taiwan chose to stand on democracy.

"The Taiwanese people have successfully resisted efforts from external forces to influence this election," Lai said.

"Maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is an important mission of my presidency," Lai said.

On the premise of reciprocity and dignity, Lai said he would like to communicate with China.

"At the same time, we are also determined to safeguard Taiwan from continuing threats and intimidation from China," Lai said.

In the legislative election, the DPP failed to maintain a majority.

"As for the new structure of the legislature, Taiwan must build a political environment of communication, consultation, participation and cooperation," Lai said, vowing to carefully study the policies of his two electoral opponents.

Wu Rwei-ren, a political analyst from the Institute of Taiwan History at Taiwan's Academia Sinica, said Lai will keep maintaining Taiwan's political and economic alliance with the US. "In this way, Taiwan will be more deeply integrated into the U.S. camp," Wu told dpa.

Chinese dissident Wang Dan, a former Tiananmen Square student leader who now lives in Taiwan, said Lai should find ways to directly dialogue with the Chinese people rather than just the Chinese government.

Wang told dpa, "He should regard China's democratization as an important basis for the future development of both sides of the Taiwan Strait.”

Taiwan has had a separate government since 1949 and has developed into a vibrant modern democracy.

Beijing, however, considers the self-ruled island as its territory and has threatened to take it by force if it makes any formal moves towards independence.

In the run-up to the election, China made repeated threats to Taiwan and has ordered voters to "stand on the right side of history" and opt for China-friendly parties, like the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), also known as the Chinese Nationalists.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the People's Republic of China.

Some observers fear a grand gesture to mark the milestone, now that Taiwan voters have rebuffed China by backing the pro-democracy ruling party for a third presidential term.

Photo: MIA archive