Taiwan’s Presidential Election: Expert Analysis From CFR and Foreign Affairs

As Taiwan’s voters head to the polls on January 13 to elect a new president and legislature, the Council on Foreign Relations and Foreign Affairs magazine offer resources and analysis on the context of the election and its implications. 

The presidential election is a three-way race between the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, the Kuomintang opposition party, and the Taiwan People’s Party—and it could prove to be a pivotal moment for cross-strait relations and the broader Asia-Pacific. 

Analyzing the Candidates on Foreign Policy

Foreign policy is featuring prominently in Taiwan’s race. CFR’s David Sacks assesses how Vice President William Lai, New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih, and former Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je plan to approach China and the United States.

Taiwan’s Path Between Extremes

The Kuomintang presidential candidate, Hou Yu-ih, lays out a plan to avert war with China in Foreign Affairs. Read Hou’s policy proposal

Taiwan’s Status Quo Election

“Taiwanese voters’ choice of one candidate or another is very unlikely to alter Taiwan’s basic approach to foreign policy . . . the real threat to Taiwan, instead, lies in what Xi does after the polls close—and in the outcome of another vote, the November presidential election in the United States,” writes CFR’s David Sacks. Read the opinion in Foreign Affairs

Taiwan’s Presidential Election

David Sacks, a fellow for Asia studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the potential geopolitical consequences of Taiwan’s presidential race. Listen to the podcast

Why China Would Struggle to Invade Taiwan

“Although China’s ambition to gain control of Taiwan is clear, doing so through force would prove enormously difficult and costly,” argues CFR’s David Sacks. Explore the immersive essay

Taiwan and the True Sources of Deterrence

“Signaling a credible military threat is only part of a successful strategy of deterrence...it also takes assurances to keep potential adversaries at bay,” write Bonnie S. Glaser, Jessica Chen Weiss, and Thomas J. Christensen. Read the analysis in Foreign Affairs

The Ukraine-Taiwan Tradeoff

U.S. support for Ukraine diverts weapons from Taiwan but demonstrates resolve to China,” writes Michael Poznansky. Read his take for Foreign Affairs

U.S.-Taiwan Relations in a New Era

CFR’s latest Independent Task Force report finds that the United States needs a bolder strategy to protect its vital strategic interests in the Taiwan Strait. 

Virtual Media Briefing: Elections in Taiwan

Panelists discuss the elections in Taiwan to elect a new president and legislature. Watch the discussion