Lai Ching-te (Chinese: 賴清德; pinyin: Lài Qīngdé; born 6 October 1959), also known as William Lai, is a Taiwanese politician and former physician who is currently serving as the 8th president of the Republic of China (Taiwan) since May 2024. He is the third member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to assume the office of president and the first whose predecessor was also a DPP member. He is also the third incumbent vice president to succeed to the presidency and the first to assume the office through election instead of immediate succession. He has also served as the chair of the DPP since 2023.
Lai was born into a working-class coal mining family in Wanli, a rural coastal town in northern Taipei County (now New Taipei City) on 6 October 1959.[1][2][3] Lai's father died on 8 January 1960 of carbon monoxide poisoning while laboring in the coal mines of Wanli.[4][5] His widowed mother raised him and his five siblings as a single parent.[6][7]
After serving as part of the support team for Chen Ding-nan's unsuccessful electoral bid for Governor of Taiwan Province in 1994,[17] Lai decided to enter politics himself. The next opportunity for election to a national body was the 1996 National Assembly, with Lai winning a seat representing Tainan City. Lai then joined the New Tide faction and stood as a candidate in the 1998 Legislative Yuan election, representing the Democratic Progressive Party in the second ward of Tainan City.[18][16] He was successful in this election, and subsequently was reelected three times in 2001, 2004, and 2008. In total he served 11 years as a legislator, and was selected as Taiwan's "Best Legislator" four times in a row by Taipei-based NGO Citizen Congress Watch.[19]
With the 2010 reorganization of the municipalities in Taiwan, Tainan City and Tainan County were amalgamated into a single municipality, called Tainan. After successfully being selected in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) primaries in January 2010,[20] Lai stood as the DPP candidate for the mayoral election on 27 November 2010, gaining 60.41% to defeat Kuomintang candidate Kuo Tien-tsai.[21][22] He took office on 25 December 2010.
As a result of his strong showing in the mayoral election coupled with his relative youth and his control of the DPP heartland city of Tainan, Lai was considered to be a potential candidate for a presidential run in 2016.[23] In 2013 an opinion poll ranked Lai as the most popular of the 22 city and county heads in Taiwan, with an approval rating of 87%.[24]
Lai made on 5 June 2014 a visit to the city of Shanghai to assist an exhibition of art by the late Taiwanese painter Tan Ting-pho and met politicians of the Chinese Communist Party.[25][26]
Lai stood for reelection on 29 November 2014 against Huang Hsiu-shuang of the Kuomintang. His opponent was considered to have such an uphill task in the DPP stronghold that she rode a black horse through the streets of Tainan as an election stunt; a hopeful allusion to her status as a "dark horse".[27] Lai, on the other hand, did not plan many campaign activities, choosing to focus on mayoral duties.[28] He eventually won the election by 45 percentage points,[29][30] the largest margin of victory in any of the municipal races in the election.[31]
Lai stepped down as Mayor in September 2017, after being appointed to the Premiership.[32] He was succeeded in acting capacity by Lee Meng-yen.[33][34]
Premier Lai Ching-te led the cabinet during the swearing-in ceremony
Lai Ching-te (center) with Ethan Tu (left) and Huang Wei-cher (right) in January 2019
In September 2017, Premier Lin Chuan tendered his resignation to President Tsai Ing-wen, which was reluctantly accepted. A recent poll showed Lin's approval rating to be a mere 28.7%, with 6 in 10 respondents dissatisfied with the performance of his cabinet.[35] On 5 September, President Tsai announced at a press conference that Lai would become the country's next head of the Executive Yuan.[36]
Lai took office on 8 September as the 49th Premier of Taiwan.[37] Following Lai's appointment as premier, Tsai's approval ratings reached 46%, rebounding by more than 16 points since August.[38] Lai made his first appearance as premier at the Legislative Yuan on 26 September, where he stated "I am a political worker who advocates Taiwan independence" but that "We are already an independent sovereign nation called the Republic of China. We don't need a separate declaration of independence".[39][40] Lai has appeared to have moderated his position on Taiwanese independence particularly when he proposed the idea of "being close to China while loving Taiwan" in June 2017.[41] He also expressed no desire to run against Tsai Ing-wen in the 2020 presidential election.[42] On 28 September, the New Party called on the KMT to join it in filing a formal complaint against the Premier for sedition.[43]
In October 2017, it was reported that Lai had garnered the approval of 68.8 percent of respondents in a survey, while 23 percent expressed dissatisfaction.[44] However, critics say that his popularity may not last, due to his rapid reversal of his position on the issue of Taiwanese independence.[45] However, on 20 October, in response to General Secretary Xi Jinping's comments on the one China policy and the 1992 consensus at the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, Lai said that the Taiwanese government, following the directives of Tsai Ing-wen, would fulfill its promise of not changing the status quo between the two neighbors and not ceding before pressure from Beijing, which comes in the form of military intimidation and an international blockade.[46]
In November 2018, Lai tendered his resignation to the president, after the ruling DPP was trounced in local elections.[47] Lai agreed to remain in office to help stabilize the government until the general budget was cleared by the Legislative Yuan in January 2019.[48][49] Lai's cabinet resigned on 11 January 2019 and Su Tseng-chang was appointed as new premier.[50][51]
On 18 March 2019, Lai Ching-te registered to run in the Democratic Progressive Party presidential primary, saying that he could shoulder the responsibility of leading Taiwan in defending itself from being annexed by China.[52] This is the first time in Taiwanese history where a serious primary challenge has been mounted against a sitting president.[53] The results of the DPP's primary poll released on 13 June shown that Tsai defeated Lai by winning 35.67 percent of the vote over Lai's 27.48 percent, officially becoming the DPP's presidential candidate for the 2020 election.[54]
In November 2019, Lai accepted president Tsai Ing-wen's offer to become her running mate for the 2020 presidential election.[55][56][57] Tsai secured over 57% of the ballot, winning a record 8.17 million votes in the election and began her second term in 2020.[58][59]
Vice presidency (2020–2024)
Official portrait as vice president
Lai exchanging gifts with Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. (left) on an official visit to Palau in November 2022
During his vice presidency, Lai served as president Tsai Ing-wen's special envoy to Honduras for president Xiomara Castro's inauguration in January 2022.[60] After the assassination of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, he made a private trip to Tokyo to pay his respects and became Taiwan's most senior official to visit Japan in five decades.[61] In November 2022, Lai led representatives of Taiwan's travel agencies and industry associations to Palau to foster collaborations between the two countries.[62]
In November 2022, president Tsai Ing-wen resigned as leader of DPP after the party's heavy losses in local elections.[63] Lai officially registered as a candidate for the DPP chair election in December.[64] Since Lai was the only candidate running, he became the new chairman of the DPP in 2023.[65][66]
In March 2023, Lai registered as the only person to run in the DPP's 2024 presidential primary and was officially nominated by the ruling party in April.[67][68] On 21 November 2023, Lai formally registered his campaign at the Central Election Commission along with his running mate, Hsiao Bi-khim.[69] Lai claimed victory on 13 January 2024, marking the first time that a political party had won three consecutive presidential terms since direct elections were first held in 1996.[70]
Under Lai, Taiwan continued the previous administration's New Southbound Policy, signing an investment pact with Thailand in June 2024. Thailand became the fifth trading partner to sign an investment agreement with Taiwan since the announcement of the policy in 2016.[73]
Ching-te reaffirmed the island's commitment to resisting Chinese annexation, emphasizing its sovereignty during National Day celebrations. He also expressed hopes for dialogue with Beijing, despite ongoing military pressure and tensions.[74][75]
Political views
Previously, Lai was viewed as a "deep green" member of the DPP, advocating for Taiwanese independence.[76] As the mayor of Tainan, Lai called himself a "pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence" and argued it was possible to "love Taiwan while having an affinity to China".[77][78] He has since moderated his position, saying that there was no need to declare independence as "Taiwan is already a sovereign, independent country called the Republic of China."[79] Lai advocates strengthening Taiwan's relations with the United States and other liberal democracies.[80] Lai considers both titles of "Taiwan" or "Republic of China" that can be used equitably and interchangeably in respect of the country name.[77]
Personal life
Lai married Wu Mei-ju in 1986. Wu worked for Taipower, and was based in Tainan until Lai was elected mayor of the city, and she transferred to Kaohsiung.[81][82] The couple raised two sons.[6]
Lai′s first grandson was born in the United States, where his father was enrolled in graduate school, in 2020.[83]
^ abChau, Thompson (18 January 2023). "After Lai's father died in a coal mine disaster, Lai and his five siblings were brought up by their mother, who made ends meet by taking day job after day job. Born in present-day New Taipei, he was two at the time of the tragedy". Nikkei Asia. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023. Lai Ching-te, whose coal miner father died while he was a toddler, took over as leader of Taiwan's ruling party on Wednesday, promising to address voter dissatisfaction and push through reforms ahead of a presidential election in less than 12 months. ... After Lai's father died in a coal mine disaster, Lai and his five siblings were brought up by their mother, who made ends meet by taking day job after day job. Born in present-day New Taipei, he was two at the time of the tragedy. ... Married and with two sons, Lai is more socially conservative than Tsai, a progressive but technocratic leader who has spearheaded reforms regarding indigenous rights and same-sex marriage, and established climate targets. He is also seen as an activist. In recent years, however, the 63-year-old has stayed away from making strident political statements and evolved into a statesmanlike vice president.
^Campbell, Charlie (20 November 2023). "Taiwan's Presidential Frontrunner Faces a Balancing Act With China". Time. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023. More than once when William Lai was a small boy, a passing typhoon blew the roof of his home clean away. It's a recollection that brings a wry smile to Taiwan's vice president, who grew up in the small coalmining hamlet of Wanli perched on the island's far north. Lai's father died in an accident in the pits when he was just 2 years old, leaving his mother to raise six children alone. Money was tight. Instead of toys, Lai had banyan trees to climb; instead of new clothes, he wore cast-offs; he didn't have privilege, he had to prove himself.
^吳昇鴻 (25 May 2023). "賴清德憶搭「開口笑」抵金 宋心濂料羅灣訓話4小時". 中央社 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
^"臺教高（二）字第1080126641號：大學各系、所、學位學程及專班 授予學位中、英文名稱 參考手冊" [Taiwan High Education II Decree 1080126641: Reference book of the awarded degrees of university departments, graduate institute degree programs and special classes in Chinese and English] (PDF) (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taipei, Taiwan: High Education Department, Ministry of Education (Taiwan). Archived(PDF) from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
^"臺教高（五）字第1112200309A號：境外學位或文憑認定原則" [Taiwan High Education IV Decree 1112200309A: Principles for recognition of overseas degrees and diplomas] (PDF) (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Taipei, Taiwan: Ministry of Education (Taiwan). 8 May 2017. Archived(PDF) from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2025 – via 行政院公報第023卷第083期 (Issue 83, Volume 23, Executive Yuan Gazette).
^2009民進黨提名縣市長候選人連結 (in Chinese). Democratic Progressive Party. 17 September 2010. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
^陪同高雄立委聯合登記 賴清德：國會過半 蔡總統更有實力守護台灣 卓榮泰：再次八仙過海，贏下高雄戰場. 民主進步黨 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 19 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2019. 民主進步黨主席卓榮泰今（19）日早前往高雄，與副總統參選人賴清德，出席「八仙過海、高雄大贏」民進黨高雄市8席立委聯合登記記者會，與民進黨8位高雄市立委參選人邱議瑩、邱志偉、劉世芳、林岱樺、李昆澤、趙天麟、許智傑和賴瑞隆登記參選。
^"Beijing 'interferes daily' in Taiwan's election, says Tsai Ing-wen". South China Morning Post. 19 November 2019. Archived from the original on 20 November 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019. China sailed an aircraft carrier group through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Sunday, the same day Tsai announced her running mate, former premier Lai Ching-te, who has angered Beijing with his pro-independence comments.
^Teng, Pei-ju (27 December 2023). "ELECTION 2024/Lai's wife makes rare public appearance to endorse husband". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023. After marrying Lai in 1986, Wu maintained her low-key lifestyle even after her husband entered politics in the 1990s. According to local media reports, Wu applied to be transferred from Taiwan Power Company's Tainan office to Hsinta Power Plant in Kaohsiung after Lai was elected Tainan mayor in 2010 to avoid any conflict of interest.
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