Is Taiwan’s incoming No 2 leader Hsiao Bi-khim the island’s new ‘US whisperer’?

As Taipei prepares to inaugurate William Lai as its new leader, his ‘force of nature’ second-in-command has Beijing concerned about her sway in Washington

Hsiao described as building ‘image of a hard-working diplomat intent on cultivating ties with like-minded democracies through soft power’

Reading Time:5 minutes

Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan’s incoming vice-president, formerly served as the island’s de facto ambassador to the US. Photo: AP

Published: 12:57am, 18 May 2024Updated: 7:30am, 31 May 2024

When asked what it was like being vice-president under then-Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian, Annette Lu once responded that she felt like wallpaper.

Few expect vice-president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim to adorn the walls, judging by her tenure as Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the United States from 2020 to 2023.

“Bi-khim Hsiao is a force of nature,” said Ryan Hass of the Washington-based Brookings Institution and formerly with the US National Security Council.

Hsiao has strong foreign-policy and national-security chops, enjoys broad support in Washington and knows US-Taiwan policy issues intimately.

These include a proposed reciprocal tax treaty, a potential trade agreement as well as US arms sales and pressure on the island to bolster its own defence, complementing president-elect William Lai Ching-te’s more domestically focused resume.

Hsiao has promoted Taiwan’s independence and greater global support for the self-ruled island. Photo: Bloomberg

But Hsiao will plough new ground when she is sworn in on Monday alongside Lai. Taiwan has never had a powerful vice-president, the position has no formal constitutional role and Lai likes to run the show.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x