Lai Ching-te, leader of the presidential race in Taiwan, chose this Monday the country’s former envoy to the United States – a prominent diplomat, known in Washington but considered a separatist by China – as his vice president for the January elections.
Lai, the current vice president and candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party, is leading the opinion polls for the elections, which will take place under growing pressure from China to accept its sovereignty over the island.
Vice candidate Hsiao Bi-khim, 52, has been Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the United States since 2020, has many connections in Washington and was expected to be Lai’s partner in the candidacy.
Hsiao said he shares values with Lai, including defending freedom and democracy in Taiwan.
“I think we have many common beliefs. We both want to take on this responsibility for Taiwan,” he told reporters at Lai’s campaign central committee in Taipei.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs accepted his resignation as envoy to the United States on Monday. Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the US-Taiwan Business Council and who has known the diplomat since the 1990s, said she is a “terrific politician” and will add a lot of diplomacy and security knowledge to Lai’s candidacy.
“Bi-khim’s relationships in Washington will be invaluable to eventual President Lai, if elected. She will bring all these relationships to his government, something he does not have,” he said.
Like most countries, the United States has no formal ties with Taiwan, but is the island’s most important international supporter and arms supplier.
Source: Terra
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