Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen leaves tough legacy for president-elect William Lai

Observers say Lai’s pro-independence leanings could make managing cross-strait ties, which worsened under Tsai, even more challenging

But without a DPP majority in parliament, he might be forced to take a more careful approach to relations with Beijing, analysts say

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Former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen (left) leaves a difficult legacy for her successor, president-elect William Lai Ching-te (right). Photo: AFP

Published: 10:00am, 15 Jan 2024Updated: 5:10pm, 15 Jan 2024

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen made history in 2016 when she was elected the first female leader of the island.

But as she prepares to bow out after finishing her second four-year term in May, she will leave a difficult legacy for her successor, president-elect William Lai Ching-te, as Taiwan has been considered one of the world’s most dangerous flashpoints for conflict during her presidency, observers said.

The Economist called Taiwan “the most dangerous place on Earth” in its May 2021 cover story warning of a potential conflict over the self-ruled island.

That warning has been echoed by prominent political figures, including Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who in a speech in April described tensions over the Taiwan Strait as the “most dangerous flashpoint” for conflict.

Observers said Tsai’s handling of cross-strait relations was the primary source of the risk of conflict, though some pundits said she was not the only one to blame.

James Yifan Chen, a professor of diplomacy and international relations at Tamkang University in New Taipei, said cross-strait tensions continued to rise after Tsai became the island’s leader, with Taiwan increasingly seen as a dangerous hotspot for conflict globally.

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