Lai Ching-te, the presidential candidate for Taiwan’s ruling party, has won a crucial election that will chart the trajectory of the island‘s democracy and relationship with China over the next four years. The Chinese government responded to his win by calling Taiwan “China’s Taiwan” and adding that their commitment to “reunification” remained “as firm as rock”. Mr Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party rejects China’s territorial claims over Taiwan and he has been denounced by Beijing. His win will deliver an unprecedented third term for the ruling party. Will this start a a new war ?
