Taiwan: Lai Ching-te to take oath as President today

Amid tensions with China across its waters Taiwanese leader Lai Chingte is all set to take the oath as the new President of Taiwan on Monday morning and is being closely watched by the world NHK World Japan reported Lai will take the oath of office at the presidential office on Monday morning before delivering an inaugural address outside the building later in the dayAs Taiwans new Presidentelect Lai Chingtes swearingin ceremony draws near the islands coastguard has ramped up patrols over the weekend amid increasing presence of Chinese vessels according to Al Jazeera Kinmen Matsu and Penghu are Taiwans three main outlying islands The Coast Guard Administration of Taiwan announced on Sunday that it had dispatched personnel to patrol all hours of the day and night near these islandsLai won the presidential election in January to succeed the incumbent Tsai Ingwen who has served two consecutive fouryear terms They both belong to the Democratic Progressive Party Lais inauguration will mark the first time for the DPP to assume a third straight presidency On January 13 the Democratic Progressive Party DPP candidate Lai won the muchanticipated Taiwanese presidential polls and is set to be the next president amid concerns over escalating tensions with ChinaThis marks the historic thirdstraight victory for the DPP after Tsai Ingwena completed her two terms as Taiwans President since 2016According to the Central Election Commission report Lai received over 5 million votes and more than 40 per cent of the vote share after counting was done from over 90 per cent of polling stations as of 745 pm local timePreviously undecided voters split three ways among the candidates giving Lai a sevenpoint lead over Kuomintang candidate Hou Yuih who received 33 per cent of the total votes In third place Taiwan Peoples Party candidate Ko Wenje took 26 per cent of the national vote performing marginally better than expected according to Taiwan NewsLai who previously served as Tainans mayor has pledged to continue bolstering national defense the economy and cooperation with democratic allies He also said he would maintain deterrence and uphold the crossstrait status quo during an election speechLai said he would form a new government staffed by individuals based on their capabilities rather than party affiliation adding that this way it could effectively respond to challenges be open and inclusive and unite Taiwanese to face both domestic and international challenges He also vowed to continue initiatives focusing on valuebased diplomacy crossstrait stability defense selfsufficiency economic upgrading energy transition youth investment housing justice and educational equalityAfter his election victory Lai told a news conference that he would maintain the status quo in Taiwans relations with China NHK Japan World reported He also said at the time that on the basis of parity and dignity he would seek dialogue with China instead of confrontation and confidently promote crossstrait exchanges and cooperationMeanwhile Beijing claims Taiwan as part of China It considers the 1992 Consensus as a prerequisite for China to engage in dialogue with the DPP administration According to The consensus was reportedly reached in 1992 between Taiwans thenruling Kuomintang party and Chinas Communist Party to affirm that there is only one China But each side has its own interpretationChina appears ready to further ratchet up pressure on Taiwan depending on the content of Lais speech China said on Wednesday that the new leader of the Taiwan region must make a clear choice between whether to follow the will of the people and take the path of peaceful development or to go against popular will and engage in provocation and confrontationThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever