Taipei, Taiwan–
Following his inauguration as president of Taiwan, William Lai Ching-te commended the democratic practices of the self-governing island and called on China to cease its “intimidation.” The ceremony featured a 21-gun salute.
At a ceremony held at the presidential building in Taipei on Monday, President Lai and Vice President Hsia Bi-khim took their oaths in front of a painting of Sun Yat-sen, the man who founded the Republic of China (ROC), as Taiwan’s official name.
The speaker of the parliament presented the 64-year-old with two seals, one representing the ROC and the other a seal of honor, which stand for presidential authority. After losing China’s civil war to the Communists, the Nationalists transferred both of them to the island in 1949.
At the occasion, outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen also said goodbye, stepping down after serving eight years, or a maximum of two terms, in office.
May 20 is significant because it was the day that martial law was imposed in 1949 and the day that Taiwan’s first popularly elected president took office in 1997. Lai explained this to the crowds gathered at the presidential building, stating that it “signals to the international community that the Republic of China, Taiwan, is a sovereign and independent nation with sovereignty resting in the people.”
In addition to urging Beijing to “stop its aggression against Taiwan” and work toward “maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region, ensuring the world is free from the fear of war,” he emphasized that Taiwan would make no compromises on its democracy and liberties.
Beijing asserts its territorial claims over Taiwan and has not ruled out using force to further its objectives. It dispatched armed ships and planes close to the island during Tsai’s two terms in government and has kept doing so ever since Lai, whom it views as a “troublemaker” and “separatist,” won the January elections.
On Monday, representatives from 29 nations participated in the ceremony, including those from the Holy See, Central America, and the Pacific, which comprised Taiwan’s final 12 diplomatic allies.
Mike Pompeo, the former secretary of state of the United States, Dalia Grybauskaite, the former president of Lithuania, and officials of foreign “economic” or “trade” offices—which function as de facto diplomatic missions for nations with formal diplomatic connections to China—all attended.
In addition to expressing congratulations, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Washington was eager to collaborate with Lai in order to “deepen our longstanding unofficial relationship, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
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Along with the dignitaries, the celebrations featured a military parade, traditional drum and dance performances, and a gathering of the general public and party supporters to commemorate Taiwan’s cultural legacy.
Lisa Wu and her family took a flight back to Taiwan from Los Angeles to witness the ceremony, where they were seated next to members of the Democratic Progressive Party of Lai.
Wu expressed her admiration for Lai, a “sincere” political leader who was the son of a coal miner and eventually obtained a medical degree. Earlier in January, she took a plane back from the United States to cast her vote for him.
Wu stated that she left Taiwan fifty years ago in search of better prospects in the US while seated in an area designated for Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party supporters. Native Taiwanese who came from families that came before the ROC government arrived at the time had less chances, albeit in modern Taiwan, the difference has disappeared.
Wu claimed to have voted in every presidential election since returning to Taiwan in 2000, just after the island nation’s democratic transition.
The Global Federation of Chinese Business Women president, Samantha Yu, traveled back from California to attend the function as well.
Wu stated that she left Taiwan fifty years ago in search of better prospects in the US while seated in an area designated for Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party supporters. Native Taiwanese who came from families that came before the ROC government arrived at the time had less chances, albeit in modern Taiwan, the difference has disappeared.
Wu claimed to have voted in every presidential election since returning to Taiwan in 2000, just after the island nation’s democratic transition.
The Global Federation of Chinese Business Women president, Samantha Yu, traveled back from California to attend the function as well.
“Today is truly unique,” Yu remarked to Al Jazeera. “At the moment, we are quite concerned about democracy because we think China might try to attack us, and democracy is very crucial for safeguarding our island. I genuinely hope that people in this country can continue to enjoy democracy because I was born here and currently reside here.
Despite not being an Atayal herself, Jiang stated that she wished to increase awareness and prominence for Taiwan’s twelve Indigenous communities.
“I believe that indigenous people should be counted as well, even though I am not an indigenous person,” the woman stated. “From my perspective, we still believe that they and their communities are historically part of Taiwan, even though we have some differences from them in the past.”
China’s official media did not immediately comment on Lai’s inauguration.
Preceding the event, the state-owned tabloid Global Times described Lai as a “regional leader.”