William Lai Ching-te has been sworn in as president of Taiwan in a ceremony that included a 21-gun salute, as he later praised the self-governing island’s democracy and urged China to stop its “intimidation”.
Lai and Vice President Hsia Bi-khim took their oaths on Monday beneath a portrait of Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the Republic of China (ROC), the formal name for Taiwan’s government, in a ceremony at the presidential building in Taipei.
The 64-year-old was given two seals that symbolise presidential power from the parliament speaker – one the ROC seal and the other a th seal of honour. Both were brought to the island by the Nationalists in 1949 after they lost China’s civil war to the communists.
Outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen also bid farewell during the ceremony, signing off after eight years and a maximum two terms in office.
Addressing the crowds gathered at the presidential building, Lai noted the significance of May 20, the day in 1949 when martial law was imposed and also the day in 1997 when Taiwan’s first popularly elected president was sworn into office “signalling to the international community that the Republic of China, Taiwan, is a sovereign and independent nation with sovereignty resting in the people”.
He stressed Taiwan would make no concessions on its democracy and freedoms and called on Beijing to “cease political and military intimidation”.
Beijing claims Taiwan as its own and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve its goals. Throughout Tsai’s two terms in office it sent military aircraft and ships near to the island and has continued to do since Lai, who it considers a “separatist” and a “troublemaker”, emerged the victor in January’s elections.
Representatives from 29 countries joined the ceremony on Monday, including those from Taiwan’s last 12 diplomatic allies in the Pacific, Central America and the Holy See.
William Lai Ching-te during his inauguration ceremony. There is a flag of Taiwan on the wall and a portrait of Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Republic of China. with large displays of pink orchids on either side. Lai is bowiing as he receives a document from an official.
Former United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attended, as did Former Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite and representatives of foreign “economic” or “trade” offices that serve as de facto diplomatic missions for countries that maintain formal ties with Beijing.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent a message of congratulations and said Washington looked forward to working with Lai to “deepen our longstanding unofficial relationship, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”.
Source: AL Jazeera
BDST: 0938 HRS, MAY 20, 2024
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