Taiwan’s local elections just concluded and resulted in the resignation of the country’s head.
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has quit as chief of the governing Democratic Progressive Party after its poor showing in local elections reports the BBC.
The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) won several significant Saturday races, including in Taipei’s capital.
The vote has drawn global attention as Taiwan becomes a more significant geopolitical flashpoint between China and the US.
President Tsai had framed the election as a vote for democracy amid rising tensions with China.
“The election results were not as expected… I should shoulder all the responsibility, and I resign as DPP chairwoman immediately,” Ms. Tsai, who will continue as president of the self-ruled island, told reporters.
The elections for local councils and city mayors theoretically have a domestic focus, covering issues such as crime, housing, and social welfare. Those elected will not have a direct say in Taiwan’s policy regarding China.
However, Ms. Tsai and government officials urged voters to use the elections to send a message about standing up for democracy as Beijing increases pressure on the island.
Voters reject lowering the voting age from 20 to 18
Voters also rejected lowering the voting age from 20 to 18 in a referendum that was run alongside the local elections.
The Chinese government sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that will, eventually, be part of the country.
But many Taiwanese people consider their self-ruled island – with its form of government and a democratic system – to be distinct.
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen resigned as head of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party after a poor showing at local elections by her party https://t.co/0ArhK6n8hc pic.twitter.com/tKHbRztsPX
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 26, 2022
Tensions peaked in August when Beijing orchestrated enormous military drills around Taiwan in a protest against US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island.
The US has long walked a tightrope over Taiwan. Officially, it has no formal ties with Taiwan but has also pledged to supply the island with defensive weapons and stressed that any attack by China would cause “grave concern.”
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