{{Short description|President of the Republic of China since 2024}} {{Family name hatnote|Lai|lang=Taiwanese}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Lai Ching-te | native_name = {{No bold|賴清德}} | image = 賴清德總統 (cropped 2).jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2024 | signature = Signature of Lai Ching-te.svg | office1 = 8th President of the Republic of China | premier1 = Cho Jung-tai | 1blankname1 = Vice President | 1namedata1 = Hsiao Bi-khim | term_start1 = 20 May 2024 | term_end1 = | predecessor1 = Tsai Ing-wen | successor1 = | order2 = 18th | office2 = Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party | 1blankname2 = Secretary General | 1namedata2 = Hsu Li-ming<br />Andrea Yang (acting)<br />Lin Yu-chang<br>Ho Po-wen (acting)<br>Hsu Kuo-yung | term_start2 = 18 January 2023 | term_end2 = | predecessor2 = Chen Chi-mai (acting) | successor2 = | order3 = 12th | office3 = Vice President of the Republic of China | president3 = Tsai Ing-wen | term_start3 = 20 May 2020 | term_end3 = 20 May 2024 | predecessor3 = Chen Chien-jen | successor3 = Hsiao Bi-khim | order5 = 26th | office5 = Premier of the Republic of China | president5 = Tsai Ing-wen | 1blankname5 = Vice Premier | 1namedata5 = Shih Jun-ji | term_start5 = 8 September 2017 | term_end5 = 14 January 2019 | predecessor5 = Lin Chuan | successor5 = Su Tseng-chang | order6 = 1st | office6 = Mayor of Tainan | deputy6 = Hsu He-chun | term_start6 = 25 December 2010 | term_end6 = 7 September 2017 | predecessor6 = ''Position established''{{efn|Hsu Tain-tsair as the provincial municipalities mayor of Tainan}} | successor6 = Li Meng-yen (acting) {{Collapsed infobox section begin | last = Yes | Legislative offices | titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}} {{Infobox officeholder | embed = Yes | office7 = Member of the Legislative Yuan | term_start7 = 1 February 2008 | term_end7 = 25 December 2010 | constituency7 = Tainan II | term_start8 = 1 February 1999 | term_end8 = 31 January 2008 | constituency8 = Tainan City | office9 = Member of the National Assembly | term_start9 = 20 May 1996 | term_end9 = 31 January 1999 | constituency9 = Tainan 1st Electoral District {{Collapsed infobox section end}} }} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|10|6|df=y}} | birth_place = Wanli, Taipei County, Taiwan (now Wanli, New Taipei City, Taiwan) | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic Progressive | education = {{ubl |National Taiwan University (BS) |National Cheng Kung University (MD) |Harvard University (MPH)}} | spouse = {{marriage|Wu Mei-ju|1986}} | children = 2 | module = {{Infobox Chinese |child = yes |t = 賴清德 |s = 赖清德 |p = Lài Qīngdé |tp = Lài Cing-dé |w = {{tone superscript|Lai⁴ Ch}}{{wg-apos}}{{tone superscript|ing¹-tê²}} |mi = {{IPAc-cmn|l|ai|4|-|q|ing|1|.|d|e|2}} |gr = Lay Chingder |bpmf = ㄌㄞˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄉㄜˊ |poj = Lōa Chheng-tek |j = Lai6 Cing1dak1 |y = Laih Chīng-dàk |ci = {{IPAc-yue|l|ai|6|-|c|ing|1|-|d|ak|7}} |tl = Luā Tshing-tik}} | native_name_lang = zh-hant | branch = {{flagicon image|Republic of China Army (ROCA) Logo.svg}} ROC Army | service_years = 1984–1986 | rank = Second lieutenant }}
'''Lai Ching-te''' ({{lang-zh|t=賴清德}}; pinyin: ''Lài Qīngdé''; born 6 October 1959), also known as '''William Lai''', is a Taiwanese politician, physician, and nephrologist who has served as the 8th president of the Republic of China since 2024. A member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), he has been the party's chairman since 2023.
Born in Wanli District, New Taipei, Lai studied medicine at National Taiwan University and National Cheng Kung University. He graduated from Harvard University with a master's degree in public health in 2003. After practicing internal medicine as a chief physician at two hospitals, Lai won election in 1996 to represent Tainan City in the National Assembly, then served as a member of the Legislative Yuan from 1999 to 2010. He was the first mayor of Tainan from 2010 to 2017 and the 26th premier of the Republic of China from 2017 to 2019.
In the 2019 Democratic Progressive presidential primary, Lai ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Tsai Ing-wen as DPP’s presidential candidate, but became her running mate as candidate for the vice president in the 2020 presidential election and won the election. Lai was nominated by the DPP to be its presidential candidate for 2024 and defeated Kuomintang (KMT) nominee Hou Yu-ih in the 2024 presidential election. He took office as president on 20 May 2024.
==Early life and education== Lai was born on 6 October 1959,<ref name=":4">{{cite news |date=2012 |title=Who's Who in the ROC |url=http://www.ey.gov.tw/en/Upload/WebArchive/4695/Who's%20Who%20in%20the%20ROC.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020105104/http://www.ey.gov.tw/en/Upload/WebArchive/4695/Who%27s%20Who%20in%20the%20ROC.pdf |archivedate=20 October 2016 |accessdate=5 May 2016 |pages= |agency=Executive Yuan}}</ref> in Wanli, a rural coastal town in northern Taipei County (now New Taipei City).<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Davidson |first=Helen |last2=Lin |first2=Chi-hui |date=2024-05-18 |title=Lai Ching-te, the political brawler who went from a Taiwan mining village to the presidency |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/19/new-taiwan-president-lai-ching-te-profile-bio-details |access-date=2025-10-29 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He was the youngest child in a poor family of five children.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last1=Shepherd |first1=Christian |last2=Chiang |first2=Vic |date=2024-01-13 |title=Taiwan elects William Lai as president. China calls it a dangerous choice. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/01/13/taiwan-president-lai-ching-te/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213225505/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/01/13/taiwan-president-lai-ching-te/ |archive-date=13 February 2024 |access-date=2024-02-17 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> His mother, Lai Tong-hao (賴童好), was the daughter of a local landlord. His father, Lai Chao-chin (賴朝金), was a poor coal miner whose parents immigrated from Gukeng, Yunlin.<ref name=":2">{{cite news |last=Hsiao |first=Fu-yan |date=4 September 2017 |title=When talking about his mother, Lai bursts into tears |url=https://www.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=5084784 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008190022/http://www.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=5084784 |archive-date=8 October 2017 |access-date=20 March 2019 |work=CommonWealth Magazine |language=zh-TW}}</ref> Their ancestral home was in Banzai, Fujian; his paternal ancestors migrated from Fujian to Taiwan during the Tongzhi era.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Cheng-chia |date=2024-04-30 |title=Alex Tsai Reveals Lai's Ancestral Roots |url=https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E8%B3%B4%E6%B8%85%E5%BE%B7%E4%B8%8D%E6%83%B3%E6%89%BF%E8%AA%8D%E7%82%8E%E9%BB%83%E5%AD%90%E5%AD%AB-%E8%94%A1%E6%AD%A3%E5%85%83%E6%8C%96-%E6%BC%B3%E5%B7%9E%E9%87%91%E5%AD%AB-%E7%A5%96%E7%B1%8D%E5%85%A8%E8%AA%AA%E4%BA%86-075742698.html |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=China Times |language=zh-TW}}</ref> When Lai was two years old,<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Campbell |first1=Charlie |date=20 November 2023 |title=Taiwan's Presidential Frontrunner Faces a Balancing Act With China |url=https://time.com/6336441/taiwan-presidental-election-william-lai-profile/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228053831/https://time.com/6336441/taiwan-presidental-election-william-lai-profile/ |archive-date=28 December 2023 |access-date=28 December 2023 |magazine=Time}}</ref> his father died of carbon monoxide poisoning<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Xiaojing |date=December 2, 2023 |title=Lai's father, a 33-year-old miner, died in a mining accident. His mother took on his father's role and encouraged him to study. She was an influential figure in his life. |url=https://www.fountmedia.io/article/178923 |access-date=2025-07-21 |website= |publisher=Fount Media (放言) |language=zh-TW}}</ref> in a mining accident.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gan |first=Nectar |date=2024-01-14 |title=Who is Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's new President? |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/14/asia/profile-lai-ching-te-taiwan-new-president-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=14 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114092744/https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/14/asia/profile-lai-ching-te-taiwan-new-president-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Afterwards, Lai's widowed mother raised him and his siblings as a single parent in a two-story dwelling.<ref name=":3" />
Lai attended Wanli Junior High School, a new junior high in New Taipei City, and, after sitting the entrance exams twice, became its first pupil to win admission to Taipei Municipal Chien Kuo High School (CKHS), the country's top senior high school for boys.<ref name=":0" /> After graduating from Chien Kuo in 1979, he enrolled at National Taiwan University to study veterinary medicine. Because he intended to enter medical school, he later transferred departments to study physical medicine and rehabilitation instead and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1984.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Li |first=Hsiao-jing |date=December 4, 2023 |title=Lai retook the entrance exam to Chien Kuo High School, transferred to medical school, and persevered |url=https://www.fountmedia.io/article/178983 |access-date=3 April 2025 |website= |publisher=Fount Media (放言)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Wang |first=Chen-chi |date=17 October 2023 |title=From Miner's Son to Dr. Lai |url=https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E7%A4%A6%E5%B7%A5%E4%B9%8B%E5%AD%90%E5%88%B0-%E8%B3%B4%E9%86%AB%E5%B8%AB-%E5%91%A8%E7%8E%89%E8%94%BB%E6%9B%9D-%E6%94%BB%E8%AE%80%E5%8F%B0%E5%A4%A7%E7%89%A9%E7%90%86%E6%B2%BB%E7%99%82-%E6%88%90%E5%A4%A7%E5%BE%8C%E9%86%AB%E7%B3%BB-043849429.html |access-date=26 December 2024 |website= |publisher=Fount Media (放言) |language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref> As an undergraduate, Lai defrayed his college expenses by working as a private tutor.<ref name=":0" /> He also became acquainted with the works of activists Loa Ho and Chiang Wei-shui.<ref name=":2" />
After college, Lai enlisted in the Republic of China Army and served on an outlying island in Kinmen County, where he was the platoon leader of a medical battalion. He was recognized by general {{Interlanguage link|Song Hsin-lien|zh|宋心濂}} for outstanding leadership during his service years and was honorably discharged.<ref>{{cite web |author=Wu |first=Sheng-hong |date=25 May 2023 |title=Lai Ching-te recalls arriving in Kinmen on the "Kaikouxiao" train and receiving a four-hour lecture from Song Xinlian in Luowan. |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202305250379.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828133802/https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202305250379.aspx |archive-date=28 August 2023 |access-date=28 August 2023 |website= |publisher=Central News Agency |language=zh-tw}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chiu |first=Lee-yan |date=June 5, 2024 |title=From Five-Star Mayor to President |url=https://udn.com/news/story/6842/8009440 |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=United Daily News |language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref> He then attended medical school at National Cheng Kung University, where studied under health director {{Interlanguage link|Lee Bo-chang|zh|李伯璋 (1954年)}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Jie-ling |last2=Wang |first2=Cheng-zhong |date=2023-04-23 |title=A career in politics was an unexpected journey for Lai Ching-te |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202304230092.aspx |access-date=2025-10-29 |website= |publisher=Central News Agency |language=zh-TW}}</ref> He received a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)<ref>{{cite web |date=22 March 2023 |title=Premier Lai Ching-te |url=https://history.ey.gov.tw/en/director/?director=31 |access-date=29 December 2024 |publisher=Executive Yuan |language=en-US}}</ref> from the post-baccalaureate medical education department in 1989,<ref name=":4" /> specializing in internal medicine.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hsiao |first=Fu-yuan |url=https://books.cw.com.tw/book/511 |title=Seeing the Future: The New Policy of Lai Ching-te |date=February 4, 2015 |publisher=CommonWealth Publishing |language=zh-tw}}</ref>
== Medical career == After graduating from medical school, Lai interned at National Cheng Kung University Hospital and became a resident physician there.<ref name="ly" /> He earned two specialist medical licenses: one in internal medicine and another in nephrology.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hsu |first=Shih-Yung |date=2023-10-28 |title=Lai Ching-te Presented Two Pieces of Evidence to Refute Claims of Lacking Clinical Experience |url=https://www.ftvnews.com.tw/news/detail/2023A28W0126 |access-date=2025-12-20 |website= |publisher=FTV News |language=zh-TW |via=}}</ref> His main field of study was spinal cord damage; he was a national consultant for such injuries.<ref name="ly">{{cite web |title= |script-title=zh:賴淸德 |trans-title=Lai Ching-te |url=http://www.ly.gov.tw/03_leg/0301_main/legIntro.action?lgno=00105&stage=7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514221329/http://www.ly.gov.tw/03_leg/0301_main/legIntro.action?lgno=00105&stage=7 |archive-date=14 May 2011 |access-date=30 November 2010 |publisher=Legislative Yuan |language=zh-tw}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Her |first1=Kelly |title=Rise to Leadership |url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=4&post=252251&unitname=Politics-Taiwan-Review&postname=Rise-to-Leadership |access-date=29 November 2024 |work=Taiwan Today}}</ref>
From 1989 to 1994, Lai was the chief physician in nephrology at both National Cheng Kung University Hospital and Sin-lau Hospital ({{lang|zh-Hant|新樓醫院}}),<ref name=":4" /> the latter a hospital of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.<ref name="ly" />
==Legislative career== In 1994, while still working as a chief physician, Lai became the chairman of a Tainan physicians' association which supported Chen Ding-nan's bid for the Governorship of Taiwan Province.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shen |first=Rufeng |date=2019-03-20 |title=Remembering Chen Ding-nan's: A Political Mentor to Lai Ching-te |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/201903200191.aspx |access-date=2026-01-15 |website= |publisher=Central News Agency |language=zh-tw}}</ref> Although the campaign was unsuccessful, Chen became a political mentor to Lai and inspired him to abandon his medical career in order to enter politics instead.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cao |first=Ting-ting |date=2010-11-21 |title=Inheriting the legacy of Chen Ding-nan: Lai Ching-te |url=https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20101121000501-260107?chdtv |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=China Times |language=zh-TW}}</ref>
Lai left his medical practice after witnessing the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1995–1996. He ran for election in 1996 and won a seat to represent Tainan City in the National Assembly.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Ellis |first=Samson |last2=Hou |first2=Betty |date=11 April 2023 |title=Taiwan Election Takes Shapes as Vice President Aims for Top Job |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-11/taiwan-election-shapes-up-with-tsai-s-party-set-to-tap-candidate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731171536/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-11/taiwan-election-shapes-up-with-tsai-s-party-set-to-tap-candidate |archive-date=31 July 2024 |access-date=2025-02-14 |work=Bloomberg News |language=en}}</ref> In that year's assembly election, he was the candidate who won the most votes in Tainan.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=President Lai |url=https://english.president.gov.tw/Page/644 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260102190937/https://english.president.gov.tw/Page/644 |archive-date=2026-01-02 |access-date=2026-01-15 |website= |publisher=Office of the President |language=en}}</ref> As an assembly legislator, Lai campaigned to abolish the National Assembly,<ref name=":6" /> and led efforts to amend the constitution to freeze the Taiwan Provincial Government.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2024 |title=Lai Ching-te, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) |url=https://www.roc-taiwan.org/uploads/sites/89/2024/05/President-Lai-Ching-te.pdf |access-date=15 January 2025 |publisher=Office of the President}}</ref>
Lai joined the New Tide faction and stood as a candidate in the 1998 Legislative Yuan election, representing the Democratic Progressive Party in the second ward of Tainan City.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Chris|title=DPP [d]riven by factionalism as primary polls heat up|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/12/11/2003578776|access-date=11 September 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=11 December 2013|archive-date=12 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312092144/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/12/11/2003578776|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ly" /> He was successful in this election, and subsequently was reelected three times in 2001, 2004, and 2008. In total he served 11 years as a legislator, and was selected as Taiwan's "Best Legislator" four times in a row by Taipei-based NGO Citizen Congress Watch.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?ID=201011270034&Type=aIPL|title=Lai keeps DPP's solid grip on Tainan|work=Focus Taiwan|access-date=30 November 2010|archive-date=17 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317170718/http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?ID=201011270034&Type=aIPL|url-status=live}}</ref>
During his time as a legislator, Lai applied to and was admitted by Harvard University to pursue graduate studies in public health.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chow |first=Yu-kow |date=December 4, 2023 |title=KMT's Chien Foo wrote Lai's recommendation letter to Harvard |url=https://www.fountmedia.io/article/178982 |access-date=2025-10-30 |website= |publisher=Fount Media (放言)}}</ref> From 2000 to 2003, he attended the Harvard School of Public Health during legislative recesses, earning his Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tseng |first=Yu-ya |date=2023-06-16 |title=Lai became a fan of the Red Socks while studying at Harvard |url=https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E8%B3%B4%E6%B8%85%E5%BE%B7%E8%AE%80%E5%93%88%E4%BD%9B%E6%88%90%E7%B4%85%E8%A5%AA%E7%B2%89-1%E7%94%B7%E4%BA%BA%E5%8D%BB%E8%AE%93%E4%BB%96%E7%A7%92%E5%8F%9B%E8%AE%8A-014116677.html |access-date=2025-10-30 |website= |publisher=FTV News |language=zh-TW}}</ref> His classmates at Harvard included future Tainan mayor Huang Wei-che.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Liu |first=Jianhong |date=2015-08-14 |title=According to Lin Yi-huang, a student at National Cheng Kung University, Lai was once badly beaten during a traffic incident |url=https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20150814001132-260603?chdtv |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=China Times |language=zh-TW}}</ref> During his time studying in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lai often spectated baseball games at Fenway Stadium; after the recruitment of Chien-Ming Wang, he became a fan of the New York Yankees.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wen |first=Kuei-hsiang |date=2023-06-15 |title=Lai Ching-te became a Red Sox fan after studying at Harvard, but then began supporting the Yankees after Wang Chien-ming was recruited |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202306150388.aspx |access-date=2025-06-21 |website= |publisher=Central News Agency |language=zh-TW}}</ref> In 2004, he was a visiting scholar at the U.S. Department of State.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-12-01 |script-title=zh:歷任院長 |script-website=zh:行政院全球資訊網 |url=https://www.ey.gov.tw/Page/4ED2F231892187F9/2b7946a1-79cc-4991-a18a-b774bcd2d6db |access-date=2025-04-03 |language=zh-tw}}</ref>
==Mayor of Tainan (2010–2017)== {{further|2010 Taiwanese local elections|2014 Taiwanese local elections}} [[File:賴清德市長.jpg|left|thumb|202x202px|Lai as Mayor of Tainan, 2017]] With the 2010 reorganization of the municipalities in Taiwan, Tainan City and Tainan County were amalgamated into a single municipality, called Tainan. After successfully being selected in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) primaries in January 2010,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dpp.org.tw/news_content.php?kw=&menu_sn=7&sub_menu=44&sn=3587|script-title=zh:2009民進黨提名縣市長候選人連結|publisher=Democratic Progressive Party|date=17 September 2010|access-date=30 November 2010|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717190622/http://www.dpp.org.tw/news_content.php?kw=&menu_sn=7&sub_menu=44&sn=3587|archive-date=17 July 2011}}</ref> Lai stood as the DPP candidate for the mayoral election on 27 November 2010, gaining 60.41% to defeat Kuomintang candidate Kuo Tien-tsai.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/11/28/2003489653|title=William Lai takes Tainan by storm|date=28 November 2010|work=Taipei Times|access-date=29 November 2010|archive-date=28 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128135026/http://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/11/28/2003489653|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=99年直轄市長選舉 候選人得票數 |url=https://db.cec.gov.tw/histQuery.jsp?voteCode=20101101C1B1&qryType=ctks |website=中央選舉委員會 |access-date=1 January 2022 |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912005155/https://db.cec.gov.tw/histQuery.jsp?voteCode=20101101C1B1&qryType=ctks |url-status=live }}</ref> He took office on 25 December 2010.
Lai prioritized fiscal sustainability by implementing zero-based budgeting and abolishing the discretionary project funds for city councillors.<ref name="LT2016">{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/1672285|title=南市府賸餘14.5億 賴清德透露如何辦到的...|work=The Liberty Times|language=zh|date=21 April 2016|access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref> This move, while triggering significant political friction with the Tainan City Council,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/paper/474695|title=工程配合款爭議 馬挺賴清德|work=The Liberty Times|language=zh|date=9 March 2011|access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref> ultimately helped the city reduce its overall debt and achieve a balanced budget by 2015.<ref name="LT2016"/> His infrastructure agenda focused on regional integration and disaster resilience; he consolidated fragmented transit routes into six major bus trunk lines in 2013 and implemented a ten-year flood protection standard.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/local/paper/643567|title=《公共運輸元年》6大幹線公車 每月通1條|work=The Liberty Times|language=zh|date=4 January 2013|access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/1898141|title=賴清德談治水：沒有城市能保證不淹 南市已見成效|work=The Liberty Times|language=zh|date=25 January 2016|access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref>
As a result of his strong showing in the mayoral election, coupled with his relative youth and his leadership of the DPP heartland city of Tainan, Lai was considered a potential candidate for a presidential run in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?id=26436&sec=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116025026/http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?id=26436&sec=3|archive-date=16 January 2012|title=A look ahead at Taiwan's 2016 presidential hopefuls|date=16 January 2012|work=The China Post}}</ref> Several opinion polls ranked Lai as the most popular of the 22 city and county heads in Taiwan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=655|title=The Rise of a New Generation|website=CommonWealth Magazine|date=6 September 2012|access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/05/23/2003562972|title=Tainan is named best city in poll|work=Taipei Times|date=23 May 2013|access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.pts.org.tw/article/245403|title=2013幸福城市大調查 金門蟬聯冠軍|work=PTS|language=zh|date=17 July 2013|access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref> During this period of high approval, Lai made a two-day visit to Shanghai in June 2014 to inaugurate an exhibition for the late Taiwanese painter Tan Ting-pho.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wen |first=Tsai |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/06/06/2003592119 |title=William Lai set to attend art exhibition in Shanghai |work=Taipei Times |date= 6 June 2014|access-date=30 November 2021|archive-date=8 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708172201/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/06/06/2003592119 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://en.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/5457|title=Tainan Mayor William Lai visits China for cultural exchange|date=6 June 2014|work=Radio Taiwan International|access-date=19 May 2020|archive-date=30 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130124612/https://en.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/5457 |url-status=live }}</ref> During the trip, he met with Chinese Communist Party officials and notably spoke at Fudan University, where he stated that Taiwanese independence was a widespread consensus in Taiwan, emphasizing the importance of democratic self-determination.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/06/08/2003592243|title=Tainan mayor rattles Chinese audience|work=Taipei Times|date=8 June 2014|access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://newtalk.tw/news/view/2014-06-07/48062|title=脫稿演出 賴清德在中國大談台獨共識|work=Newtalk|language=zh|date=7 June 2014|access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/785714|title=賴清德訪中 大談台獨、八九民運|work=The Liberty Times|language=zh|date=8 June 2014|access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref>
Lai stood for reelection on 29 November 2014 against Huang Hsiu-shuang of the Kuomintang. His opponent was considered to have such an uphill task in the DPP stronghold that she rode a black horse through the streets of Tainan as an election stunt; a hopeful allusion to her status as a "dark horse".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/11/26/2003605337|work=Taipei Times|title=Saturday's elections seen as a litmus test for 2016|date=26 November 2014|access-date=2 December 2014|archive-date=24 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224131943/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/11/26/2003605337|url-status=live}}</ref> Lai, on the other hand, did not plan many campaign activities, choosing to focus on mayoral duties.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chen|first1=Ted|title=Incumbent Tainan Mayor William Lai hopes to continue improving his city|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/analysis/2014/11/21/422313/Incumbent-Tainan.htm|access-date=21 February 2016|work=The China Post|date=21 November 2014|archive-date=31 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331181419/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/analysis/2014/11/21/422313/Incumbent-Tainan.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> He eventually won the election by 45 percentage points,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Jung-hsiang|last2=Huang|first2=Wen-huang|last3=Chung|first3=Jake|title=Kaohsiung and Tainan's mayors win re-election|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/11/30/2003605635|access-date=21 February 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=30 November 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003202/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/11/30/2003605635|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=103年直轄市長選舉 候選人得票數 |url=https://db.cec.gov.tw/histQuery.jsp?voteCode=20141101B1B1&qryType=ctks |website=中央選舉委員會 |access-date=1 January 2022 |location=Taiwan |archive-date=3 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603032542/https://db.cec.gov.tw/histQuery.jsp?voteCode=20141101B1B1&qryType=ctks |url-status=live }}</ref> the largest margin of victory in any of the municipal races in the election.<ref>{{citation|url=http://thinking-taiwan.com/taiwan-insider-vol-1-no-10/|publisher=Thinking Taiwan|title=TAIWAN INSIDER Vol. 1 No. 10|access-date=2 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503114315/http://thinking-taiwan.com/taiwan-insider-vol-1-no-10/|archive-date=3 May 2016}}</ref>
In 2015, Mayor Lai and his administration sparked a localized constitutional crisis by boycotting the Tainan City Council for nearly eight months.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/01/07/2003608646|title=Tainan mayor refuses to attend council meetings|work=Taipei Times|date=7 January 2015|access-date=27 December 2025}}</ref><ref name="TT2015">{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/08/29/2003626437|title=Tainan mayor ends city council boycott|work=Taipei Times|date=29 August 2015|access-date=27 December 2025}}</ref> Beginning in early January, Lai refused to attend council sessions to protest the election of Speaker Lee Chuan-chiao, who was then facing vote-buying allegations. This unprecedented standoff led the Control Yuan to impeach Lai on 4 August 2015, ruling that his refusal to submit to interpellation violated the Local Government Act and undermined the democratic system of checks and balances.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rti.org.tw/en/news?uid=3&pid=243178&typeId=2|title=Tainan mayor impeached for failing to attend city council meetings|work=Radio Taiwan International|date=4 August 2015|access-date=27 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cy.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=124&sms=8912&s=7400|title=臺南市長賴清德違法不進議會 架空該市立法權 悖離民主與法治原則 傷害憲政體制|website=The Control Yuan|date=4 August 2015|access-date=27 December 2025|language=zh}}</ref> The political deadlock coincided with Taiwan's dengue fever outbreak, which centered in Tainan and resulted in over 22,000 infections and 112 deaths in the city that year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/08/20/2003625797|title=Tainan mayor is to blame for outbreak: KMT caucus|work=Taipei Times|date=20 August 2015|access-date=27 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cy.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=124&sms=8912&s=7814|title=104年臺南登革熱大流行 監察院糾正臺南市政府 未落實執行防疫措施|website=The Control Yuan|language=zh|date=6 October 2016|access-date=27 December 2025}}</ref> On 28 August, amid the escalating epidemic, Lai announced that his reform efforts had achieved preliminary goals and returned to the council to deliver a report.<ref name="TT2015"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.pts.org.tw/article/304906|title=抵制232天 賴清德今進議會施政報告|work=PTS|date=28 August 2015|access-date=27 December 2025|language=zh}}</ref> The case was subsequently referred to the Commission on the Disciplinary Sanctions of Functionaries under the Judicial Yuan, which issued an admonition to Lai for his actions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201510300028|title=Tainan mayor given a reprimand for boycotting city council meetings|work=Focus Taiwan|date=30 October 2015|access-date=27 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/928389|title=賴清德拒進議會 遭公懲會申誡|work=The Liberty Times|date=31 October 2015|access-date=27 December 2025|language=zh}}</ref>
Lai stepped down as Mayor in September 2017, after being appointed to the Premiership.<ref>{{cite news |title=蔡總統宣布 賴清德接任行政院長 |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201709055007.aspx |access-date=1 January 2022 |author1=顧荃 |agency=中央通訊社 |date=5 September 2017 |location=Taiwan |language=zh |archive-date=1 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101122639/https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201709055007.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> He was succeeded in acting capacity by Lee Meng-yen.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://m.focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201709060004.aspx|title=Lai bids farewell to Tainan, names Lee Meng-yen as acting mayor |work=Focus Taiwan |date=6 September 2017 |access-date=14 October 2017 |archive-date=14 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014234543/http://m.focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201709060004.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=張榮祥、王淑芬 |title=賴清德宣布 李孟諺代理台南市長[影] |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201709060050.aspx |access-date=1 January 2022 |agency=中央通訊社 |date=6 September 2017 |location=Taiwan |language=zh |archive-date=1 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101123327/https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201709060050.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Premiership (2017–2019)== {{Main|Lai cabinet}}
thumb|Premier Lai leads the cabinet during the swearing-in ceremony
In September 2017, Premier Lin Chuan tendered his resignation to President Tsai Ing-wen. A poll showed Lin's approval rating to be a mere 28.7%, with 6 in 10 respondents dissatisfied with the performance of his cabinet.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taiwan-premier-lin-chuan-looks-set-to-step-down-on-sept-8-reports|title=Taiwan Premier Lin Chuan resigns, Tainan city mayor William Lai reported to be successor|date=4 September 2017|work=The Straits Times|access-date=20 September 2017|archive-date=6 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906235439/http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taiwan-premier-lin-chuan-looks-set-to-step-down-on-sept-8-reports|url-status=live}}</ref> On 5 September, President Tsai announced at a press conference that Lai would become the country's next head of the Executive Yuan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-premier-idUSKCN1BG0J4|title=Taiwan appoints new premier to drive reform efforts|work=Reuters|date=5 September 2017|access-date=22 December 2022|archive-date=21 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221222737/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-premier-idUSKCN1BG0J4|url-status=live}}</ref>
Lai took office on 8 September as the Premier of the Republic of China.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2&post=121190|title=Premier Lai takes office, vows to advance reform|website=Taiwan Today|date=8 September 2017|access-date=22 December 2022|archive-date=21 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221222735/https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2&post=121190|url-status=live}}</ref> Following his appointment, Tsai's approval ratings reached 46%, rebounding by more than 16 points since August.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Taiwan-s-new-premier-revitalizes-President-Tsai-s-fortunes |title=Taiwan's new premier revitalizes President Tsai's fortunes|work=Nikkei|date=3 October 2017|access-date=3 October 2017|archive-date=3 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003233657/https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Taiwan-s-new-premier-revitalizes-President-Tsai-s-fortunes }}</ref> Lai made his first appearance as premier at the Legislative Yuan on 26 September, becoming the first premier to openly advocate for Taiwan independence in the legislature.<ref name="TT2017">{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2017/09/27/2003679217|title=Lai reaffirms support for independence|work=Taipei Times|date=27 September 2017|access-date=22 December 2022|archive-date=21 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221222740/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2017/09/27/2003679217|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="LTN2017">{{cite news |date=27 September 2017 |title=賴揆：務實台獨主義者 |url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/1138762 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221222737/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/1138762 |archive-date=21 December 2022 |access-date=22 December 2022 |work=The Liberty Times |language=zh}}</ref> He stated that he was a political worker who advocated for Taiwan independence, but argued that Taiwan was already an independent sovereign nation called the Republic of China and therefore did not need a separate declaration of independence.
During his tenure as premier, Lai styled his cabinet as one of "practical action."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/2187320|title=賴清德就職 宣示做實事內閣不是選舉內閣|work=The Liberty Times|language=zh|date=8 September 2017|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref> To address economic bottlenecks and facilitate Taiwanese businesses returning from China amid the China–United States trade war, he launched initiatives to resolve the "five shortages"—land, water, power, talent, and labor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2017/11/11/2003682047|title=Immigrants key to labor shortage: Lai|work=Taipei Times|date=11 November 2017|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://international.thenewslens.com/article/105224|title=Taiwan News: Premier Lai Urges China Businesses Home as Trade War Deepens|work=The News Lens|date=2 October 2018|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref> In the early months of his premiership, Lai enjoyed high public support; by October 2017, surveys showed his approval ratings reaching as high as 68.8%,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2017/10/17/2003680492|title=Premier Lai's high approval rating boosts Tsai's|work=Taipei Times|date=17 October 2017|access-date=21 October 2017|archive-date=21 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021220846/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2017/10/17/2003680492|url-status=live}}</ref> while another poll during the same period recorded 58% satisfaction against 21% dissatisfaction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tpof.org/%e5%8f%b0%e7%81%a3%e6%94%bf%e6%b2%bb/%e5%85%a7%e9%96%a3%e6%96%bd%e6%94%bf/%e8%b3%b4%e6%b8%85%e5%be%b7%e6%96%b0%e5%85%a7%e9%96%a3%e7%9a%84%e6%96%bd%e6%94%bf%e8%a1%a8%e7%8f%be%ef%bc%882017%e5%b9%b410%e6%9c%8823%e6%97%a5%ef%bc%89/|title=賴清德新內閣的施政表現（2017年10月23日）|website=Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation|language=zh|date=23 October 2017|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref>
However, this momentum shifted as his administration faced intense criticism over the second amendment to the Labor Standards Act, which was perceived as a rollback of labor rights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=1817|title=Employers Emerge Victorious|website=CommonWealth Magazine|date=22 January 2018|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/2261115|title=勞基法修法 學者批民進黨退步100年|work=The Liberty Times|language=zh|date=22 November 2017|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/2308770|title=賴揆：盼勞基法修法讓台灣經濟大步發展|work=The Liberty Times|language=zh|date=11 January 2018|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref> His public image was further strained in November 2017 by the "Merit" controversy, where his suggestion that low-paid caregivers should view their work as "performing an act of merit" led to widespread backlash among the youth and the satirical renaming of the Executive Yuan as the "Merit Yuan" by protesters.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wang|first=Hong-zen|date=25 December 2017|url=https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=1775|title=Who Treats Workers Better?|website=CommonWealth Magazine|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.pts.org.tw/article/377890|title=照服員3萬薪 賴揆：似乎不划算、當做功德|work=PTS|language=zh|date=24 November 2017|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/2270216|title=行政院標誌被改成「功德院」 賴揆這麼說|work=The Liberty Times|language=zh|date=1 December 2017|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref> Further leadership strain was caused by his defense of the Shen'ao Power Plant expansion using "clean coal" and the National Taiwan University presidential selection dispute,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.pts.org.tw/article/388591|title=「乾淨的煤」惹議 詹：燃煤電廠非潔淨能源|work=PTS|language=zh|date=17 March 2018|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.pts.org.tw/article/409656|title=深澳電廠誰拍板？ 政院、新北市府再互摃|work=PTS|language=zh|date=14 October 2018|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/201805020030|title=University autonomy not a shield for personal responsibility: Premier|work=Focus Taiwan|date=2 May 2018|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref> the latter of which led to the successive resignations of three Ministers of Education within a single year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/04/15/2003691341|title=Minister quits over NTU controversy|work=Taipei Times|date=15 April 2018|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/05/30/2003693962|title=Wu resigns as minister of education|work=Taipei Times|date=30 May 2018|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/12/26/2003706796|title=Yeh defends his decision on Kuan's appointment|work=Taipei Times|date=26 December 2018|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref>
[[File:20190122 Ethan Tu , William Lai, and Huang Wei-cher.jpg|thumb|Lai (center) with Ethan Tu (left) and Huang Wei-che (right) in January 2019]]
These controversies were reflected in a steady decline of public support. By mid-2018, Lai's approval ratings dropped to the 40% range, with his dissatisfaction rating beginning to eclipse his satisfaction rating for the first time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.storm.mg/article/449989|title=台灣民意基金會民調》賴清德滿意度「死亡交叉」？首度不滿意超過滿意者|website=The Storm Media|language=zh|date=17 June 2018|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref> By the end of the year, his approval rating further declined to a record low of 37%, while his dissatisfaction reached 49%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2018/12/25/2003706759|title=Approval for Tsai and Lai hits new low|work=Taipei Times|date=25 December 2018|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tpof.org/%e5%8f%b0%e7%81%a3%e6%94%bf%e6%b2%bb/%e5%85%a7%e9%96%a3%e6%96%bd%e6%94%bf/%e8%b3%b4%e6%b8%85%e5%be%b7%e5%85%a7%e9%96%a3%e7%9a%84%e6%96%bd%e6%94%bf%e8%a1%a8%e7%8f%be%ef%bc%882018%e5%b9%b412%e6%9c%8824%e6%97%a5%ef%bc%89/|title=賴清德內閣的施政表現（2018年12月24日）|website=Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation|language=zh|date=24 December 2018|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref> Following the Democratic Progressive Party's heavy defeat in the 2018 local elections—in which the party's total number of governed seats dropped from 13 to 6, including the loss of its long-held stronghold in Kaohsiung and the key municipality of Taichung—Lai tendered his resignation in November 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/11/25/2003704879|title=2018 ELECTIONS: Lai offers to resign as DPP routed|work=Taipei Times|date=25 November 2018|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref> Although President Tsai Ing-wen initially requested him to stay, Lai remained in office to stabilize the government until the general budget was cleared by the Legislative Yuan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3583637|title=Premier Lai rescinds resignation, pledges to respect Taiwan's referendum results|work=Taiwan News|date=26 November 2018|access-date=21 December 2022|archive-date=21 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221153743/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3583637|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/11/27/2003704995|title=Lai, Chen Chu withdraw resignations|work=Taipei Times|date=27 November 2018|access-date=21 December 2022|archive-date=21 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221153742/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/11/27/2003704995|url-status=live}}</ref> On 11 January 2019, Lai and his cabinet resigned en masse, and he was succeeded by Su Tseng-chang.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Sean |title=Cabinet resigns as Premier Lai says he has 'no regrets' |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/01/12/2003707790 |access-date=12 January 2019 |work=Taipei Times |date=12 January 2019 |archive-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111205338/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/01/12/2003707790 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2019/01/12/2003707770|title=Former premier Su to regain position|work=Taipei Times|date=12 January 2019|access-date=21 December 2022|archive-date=21 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221153743/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2019/01/12/2003707770|url-status=live}}</ref>
==First presidential campaign (2019)== {{further|2019 Democratic Progressive Party presidential primary|2020 Taiwanese presidential election}}
Although Lai had previously expressed no intention of challenging Tsai Ing-wen in the 2020 presidential election,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E8%94%A1%E8%B3%B4%E9%85%8D%E9%82%84%E6%97%A9-%E4%B8%8D%E5%8F%83%E9%81%B82020%E5%B9%B4%E7%B8%BD%E7%B5%B1-100000606.html|title=蔡賴配還早 不參選2020年總統|work=World Journal|language=zh|date=27 September 2017|access-date=22 December 2022|archive-date=21 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221222748/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E8%94%A1%E8%B3%B4%E9%85%8D%E9%82%84%E6%97%A9-%E4%B8%8D%E5%8F%83%E9%81%B82020%E5%B9%B4%E7%B8%BD%E7%B5%B1-100000606.html|url-status=live}}</ref> he registered for the Democratic Progressive Party primary on 18 March 2019, stating that he could shoulder the responsibility of leading Taiwan in defending itself from being annexed by China.<ref name="lairuns">{{cite news |last1=Yang |first1=Chun-hui |last2=Hsiao |first2=Sherry |title=Lai seeks DPP's backing for 2020 race |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2019/03/19/2003711759 |work=Taipei Times |date=19 March 2019 |access-date=15 April 2019 |archive-date=19 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319131005/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2019/03/19/2003711759 |url-status=live }}</ref> This is the first time in Taiwanese history where a serious primary challenge has been mounted against a sitting president.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's president, is challenged by a former underling|url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2019/03/23/tsai-ing-wen-taiwans-president-is-challenged-by-a-former-underling/|date=21 March 2019|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=15 April 2019|archive-date=22 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322170232/https://www.economist.com/asia/2019/03/23/tsai-ing-wen-taiwans-president-is-challenged-by-a-former-underling|url-status=live}}</ref> The results of the DPP's primary poll released on 13 June shown that Tsai defeated Lai by winning 35.67 percent of the vote over Lai's 27.48 percent, officially becoming the DPP's presidential candidate for the 2020 election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=2437|title=President Tsai Ing-wen Beats Former Premier William Lai to Win DPP's Nomination|work=CommonWealth Magazine|date=13 June 2019|access-date=21 December 2022|archive-date=10 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410190335/https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=2437|url-status=live}}</ref>
In November 2019, Lai accepted President Tsai's offer to become her running mate for the 2020 presidential election.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 November 2019 |script-title=zh:陪同高雄立委聯合登記 賴清德：國會過半 蔡總統更有實力守護台灣 卓榮泰：再次八仙過海，贏下高雄戰場 |url=https://www.dpp.org.tw/media/contents/8870 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102123003/https://www.dpp.org.tw/media/contents/8870 |archive-date=2 January 2020 |access-date=21 November 2019 |website=民主進步黨 |language=zh-tw |quote=民主進步黨主席卓榮泰今（19）日早前往高雄，與副總統參選人賴清德，出席「八仙過海、高雄大贏」民進黨高雄市8席立委聯合登記記者會，與民進黨8位高雄市立委參選人邱議瑩、邱志偉、劉世芳、林岱樺、李昆澤、趙天麟、許智傑和賴瑞隆登記參選。}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=19 November 2019 |title=Beijing 'interferes daily' in Taiwan's election, says Tsai Ing-wen |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3038456/beijing-interferes-daily-taiwans-election-says-tsai-ing-wen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120194151/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3038456/beijing-interferes-daily-taiwans-election-says-tsai-ing-wen |archive-date=20 November 2019 |access-date=21 November 2019 |website=South China Morning Post |quote=China sailed an aircraft carrier group through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Sunday, the same day Tsai announced her running mate, former premier Lai Ching-te, who has angered Beijing with his pro-independence comments.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2019/11/18/2003726046|title=Tsai picks William Lai as running mate|work=Taipei Times|date=18 November 2019|access-date=21 December 2022|archive-date=21 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221153741/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2019/11/18/2003726046|url-status=live}}</ref> Tsai secured over 57% of the ballot, winning a record 8.17 million votes in the election and began her second term in 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51077553|title=Taiwan election: Tsai Ing-wen wins second presidential term|work=BBC News|date=11 January 2020|access-date=21 December 2022|archive-date=27 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027074352/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51077553|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=第15任總統(副總統)選舉 候選人得票數 |url=https://db.cec.gov.tw/histQuery.jsp?voteCode=20200101P1A1&qryType=ctks |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605162621/https://db.cec.gov.tw/histQuery.jsp?voteCode=20200101P1A1&qryType=ctks |archive-date=5 June 2020 |access-date=1 January 2022 |website=中央選舉委員會 |location=Taiwan}}</ref>
==Vice presidency (2020–2024)== thumb|180px|Lai's official portrait as vice president During his vice presidency, Lai served as President Tsai Ing-wen's special envoy to Honduras for president Xiomara Castro's inauguration in January 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4425387|title=Vice President Lai invites new president of Honduras to visit Taiwan|work=Taiwan News|date=28 January 2022|access-date=21 December 2022|archive-date=21 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221010906/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4425387|url-status=live}}</ref> After the assassination of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, he made a private trip to Tokyo to pay his respects and became Taiwan's most senior official to visit Japan in five decades.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-vice-president-makes-rare-japan-visit-pay-respects-abe-official-media-2022-07-11/|title=Taiwan vice president makes rare Japan visit to pay respects to Abe|work=Reuters|date=11 July 2022|access-date=21 December 2022|archive-date=21 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221010903/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-vice-president-makes-rare-japan-visit-pay-respects-abe-official-media-2022-07-11/|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2022, Lai led representatives of Taiwan's travel agencies and industry associations to Palau to foster collaborations between the two countries.<ref>{{cite news |date=3 November 2022 |title=VP Lai Ching-te returns to Taiwan after three-day Palau trip |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202211030028 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212141435/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202211030028 |archive-date=12 December 2022 |access-date=21 December 2022 |work=Central News Agency}}</ref>
In November 2022, President Tsai resigned as leader of DPP after the party's heavy losses in local elections.<ref>{{cite news |date=26 November 2022 |title=Taiwan's Tsai quits as party leader after heavy local election losses |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Taiwan-elections/Taiwan-s-Tsai-quits-as-party-leader-after-heavy-local-election-losses |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215085351/https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Taiwan-elections/Taiwan-s-Tsai-quits-as-party-leader-after-heavy-local-election-losses |archive-date=15 December 2022 |access-date=21 December 2022 |work=Nikkei Asia}}</ref> Lai officially registered as a candidate for the DPP chair election in December.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 December 2022 |title=Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te registers candidacy for DPP chair |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4749945 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221010905/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4749945 |archive-date=21 December 2022 |access-date=21 December 2022 |work=Taiwan News}}</ref> Since Lai was the only candidate running, he became the new chairman of the DPP in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 December 2022 |title=Taiwan's Vice President Lai expected to head the ruling party |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221216_40/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221010909/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221216_40/ |archive-date=21 December 2022 |access-date=21 December 2022 |work=NHK}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=16 January 2023 |title=William Lai vows to lead "honest" DPP |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2023/01/16/2003792674 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117232547/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2023/01/16/2003792674 |archive-date=17 January 2023 |access-date=18 January 2023 |work=Taipei Times}}</ref>
=== 2024 presidential campaign === {{Main|2024 Taiwanese presidential election}}
In March 2023, Lai registered as the only person to run in the DPP's 2024 presidential primary and was officially nominated by the ruling party in April.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 March 2023 |title=Taiwan's Vice President Lai secures nomination as DPP presidential candidate |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230318_01/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320051715/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230318_01/ |archive-date=20 March 2023 |access-date=20 March 2023 |work=NHK}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=17 March 2023 |title=Registration for DPP presidential primary closes with William Lai as sole registrant |url=https://english.ftvnews.com.tw/news/2023317W0AEA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320053218/https://english.ftvnews.com.tw/news/2023317W0AEA |archive-date=20 March 2023 |access-date=20 March 2023 |work=FTV News}}</ref> On 21 November 2023, Lai formally registered his campaign at the Central Election Commission along with his running mate, Louise Hsiao.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 November 2023 |title=Taiwan ruling party powers ahead as chaos engulfs opposition campaign |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-ruling-party-powers-ahead-with-opposition-mired-bitter-dispute-2023-11-22/ |access-date=13 December 2023 |work=Reuters |archive-date=10 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210230800/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-ruling-party-powers-ahead-with-opposition-mired-bitter-dispute-2023-11-22/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lai claimed victory in a three-way race on 13 January 2024, marking the first time that a political party had won three consecutive presidential terms since direct elections were first held in 1996.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Teng |first1=Pei-ju |date=13 January 2024 |title=ELECTION 2024/DPP's Lai claims victory in Taiwan presidential election |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202401130011 |access-date=13 January 2024 |agency=Central News Agency |archive-date=13 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113130936/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202401130011 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the DPP lost its majority in the legislative election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2024/01/14/2003812069|title=KMT wins 52 legislative seats, DPP bags 51 and TPP eight|work=Taipei Times|date=14 January 2024|access-date=5 May 2025}}</ref>
== Presidency (2024–present) == thumb|Lai at his presidential inauguration on 20 May 2024 {{main|Presidency of Lai Ching-te|Cho Cabinet}}
On 13 January 2024, Lai Ching-te was elected president of the Republic of China with approximately 40% of the vote,<ref name="cnbc">{{cite news |last1=Tan |first1=Clement |title=China skeptic William Lai wins Taiwan's presidential election |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/13/taiwan-2024-election-dpps-lai-ching-te-wins.html |access-date=13 January 2024 |work=CNBC |date=13 January 2024 |language=en |archive-date=13 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113122917/https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/13/taiwan-2024-election-dpps-lai-ching-te-wins.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and was inaugurated on 20 May 2024.<ref name="politico">{{cite news |last1=Lau |first1=Stuart |title=China skeptic wins Taiwan presidency in snub to Beijing |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/william-lai-takes-early-lead-in-taiwan-presidential-race-in-snub-to-beijing/ |access-date=13 January 2024 |work=POLITICO |date=13 January 2024 |language=en |archive-date=13 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113110420/https://www.politico.eu/article/william-lai-takes-early-lead-in-taiwan-presidential-race-in-snub-to-beijing/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lai appointed Cho Jung-tai, ruling party's former chairman, as the new premier.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwans-new-premier-is-ruling-partys-former-chairman-2024-04-10/|title=Taiwan appoints ruling party's former chairman as new premier|work=Reuters|date=10 April 2024|access-date=24 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411081942/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwans-new-premier-is-ruling-partys-former-chairman-2024-04-10/|archive-date=11 April 2024}}</ref> In the parliamentary election his party DPP secured 51 seats while the two opposition parties KMT and TPP won 52 and 8 respectively, resulting in a minority government.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-15 |title=【Data Reporter】35張圖表，帶你看2024大選關鍵結果 - 報導者 The Reporter |url=https://www.twreporter.org/a/2024-election-results-chart |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=www.twreporter.org |language=zh-TW}}</ref>
=== Internal affairs === In May 2024, the KMT-TPP coalition passed parliamentary bills strengthening parliamentary power in investigation and review, sparking strong opposition from the DPP and massive protests by DPP supporters. Lai subsequently filed a constitutional challenge which the court later upheld in June, declaring the bills unconstitutional.<ref>{{Cite web |last=中央通訊社 |date=2024-06-24 |title=國會職權修法釋憲 賴總統：國會理當改革不應任意擴權 {{!}} 政治 |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202406240033.aspx |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=中央社 CNA |language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref>
In September, Ko Wen-je the leader of the TPP was arrested and investigated for bribery allegations, which was claimed as political persecution by TPP and divided public opinion in Taiwan.<ref>{{cite news|author=郭建伸|title=民眾黨全台開講聲援柯文哲 集體決策由黃國昌發言|work=中央社|date=2024-09-06|url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202409060098.aspx}}</ref> Huang Kuo-chang then became the new TPP leader and continued to strengthen collaboration with the KMT, including the revisions to the Constitutional Interpretation Act, the Election and Recall Act and the Budget Act, further restricting government power.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-20 |title=立院激烈衝突後通過選罷法、憲訴法、財劃法修正案：罷免連署、大法官違憲裁判門檻提高，中央增釋3千億給地方 - 報導者 The Reporter |url=https://www.twreporter.org/a/kmt-tpp-lawmakers-pass-three-amendments-include-constitutional-court-procedure-act |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=www.twreporter.org |language=zh-TW}}</ref> Following the expiration of seven justices' terms in late 2024, the Constitutional Court entered a period of functional paralysis after the Legislative Yuan rejected President Lai's new nominees.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Garcia|first1=Sam|last2=Khan|first2=Fion|date=25 December 2024|title=All 7 of Lai's judicial nominees rejected|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2024/12/25/2003829069|work=Taipei Times|access-date=20 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://taiwannews.com.tw/news/6164138|title=Legislature rejects all of Lai's judicial nominees|work=Taiwan News|date=25 July 2025|access-date=20 December 2025}}</ref>
In early to mid-2025, the DPP, led by Lai, supported the 2025 Taiwanese mass electoral recall campaigns, which eventually failed to recall any opposition party legislators, despite initial optimism among DPP supporters.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sacks |first=David |date=28 July 2025 |title=What the Failed Recall in Taiwan Means for U.S.-Taiwan and Cross-Strait Relations |url=https://www.cfr.org/blog/what-failed-recall-taiwan-means-us-taiwan-and-cross-strait-relations |access-date=17 December 2025 |website=Council on Foreign Relations}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Templeman |first=Kharis |date=15 August 2025 |title=Taiwan after the great recalls: Toward a new political equilibrium? |url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/taiwan-after-the-great-recalls-toward-a-new-political-equilibrium/ |access-date=17 December 2025 |website=Brookings}}</ref> Lai's disapproval rating began to surpass his approval rating.<ref>{{cite web |date=16 September 2025 |title=September 2025 Public Opinion Poll – English Excerpt |url=https://www.tpof.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250916-TPOF-September-2025-Public-Opinion-Poll-%E2%80%93-English-Excerpt.pdf |access-date=17 December 2025 |website=Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Truong |first1=Tuan Kiet |last2=Huynh |first2=Tam Sang |date=15 October 2025 |title=Lai Ching-te's Fragile Presidency and the Politics of Survival |url=https://globaltaiwan.org/2025/10/lai-ching-tes-fragile-presidency/ |access-date=17 December 2025 |website=Global Taiwan Institute}}</ref>
His government also banned Taiwanese people from using the Chinese social media app Rednote, which was used by 29% of the population, due to a fraud risk, leading to disapproval over the ban.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-05 |title=台灣以「打擊詐騙」為由封鎖小紅書一年，為何引發爭議？ |url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/articles/crk762n7rj3o/trad |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=BBC News 中文 |language=zh-hant}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-10 |title=聚焦台海 - 台湾政府以打诈理由禁小红书一年 究竟是打压言论自由还是捍卫台湾民主？ |url=https://www.rfi.fr/cn/%E4%B8%93%E6%A0%8F%E6%A3%80%E7%B4%A2/%E8%81%9A%E7%84%A6%E5%8F%B0%E6%B5%B7/20251210-%E5%8F%B0%E6%B9%BE%E6%94%BF%E5%BA%9C%E4%BB%A5%E6%89%93%E8%AF%88%E7%90%86%E7%94%B1%E7%A6%81%E5%B0%8F%E7%BA%A2%E4%B9%A6%E4%B8%80%E5%B9%B4-%E7%A9%B6%E7%AB%9F%E6%98%AF%E6%89%93%E5%8E%8B%E8%A8%80%E8%AE%BA%E8%87%AA%E7%94%B1%E8%BF%98%E6%98%AF%E6%8D%8D%E5%8D%AB%E5%8F%B0%E6%B9%BE%E6%B0%91%E4%B8%BB |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=RFI - 法国国际广播电台 |language=zh-Hans}}</ref>
On 26 November, Lai Ching-te and his defense minister, Wellington Koo, announced a new special budget for Taiwan to purchase weapons from the United States, which over the next several years will reach T$1.25 trillion (US$39.89 billion).<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Yimou |last1=Lee |first2=Ben |last2=Blanchard |title=Taiwan plans extra $40 billion in defence spending to counter China |date=26 November 2025 |work=Reuters |access-date=26 December 2025 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-president-says-he-will-propose-extra-40-billion-defence-spending-2025-11-25/ }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Davidson |first=Helen |title=Taiwan plans extra $40bn in defence spending to counter China's 'intensifying' threats |date=26 November 2025 |access-date=26 December 2025 |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/26/taiwan-extra-40bn-defence-spending-china-threat }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Taiwan unveils $40bn budget for defense spending to counter China |work=Al Jazeera |date=26 November 2025 |access-date=26 December 2025 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/26/1768 }}</ref>
In December, Premier Cho started selectively refusing to enforce laws passed by the Legislative Yuan, while Lai accused the opposition parties of abusing legislative power akin to a "dictatorship".<ref>{{cite web |date=15 December 2025 |title=President Lai delivers recorded address following national policy discussion with government branch leaders |url=https://english.president.gov.tw/News/7059 |access-date=17 December 2025 |website=Office of the President}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Blanchard |first=Ben |date=16 December 2025 |title=Global credibility threatened by controversial laws: Lai |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/12/16/2003848988 |access-date=17 December 2025 |work=Taipei Times |agency=Reuters}}</ref> Previously, opposition parties passed many controversial bills, some of which paralysed {{Ill|Taiwan’s Constitutional Court|lt=Taiwan’s Constitutional Court|zh|憲法法庭}} and caused the {{Ill|2024–25 Taiwanese constitutional crisis|lt=constitutional crisis|zh|2024年—2025年台灣憲政危機}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Taiwan Is in the Middle of a Constitutional Crisis |url=https://thediplomat.com/2025/12/taiwan-is-in-the-middle-of-a-constitutional-crisis/ |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=thediplomat.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Impeachment === Lai refused to promulgate a legal amendment that would have allowed local governments to receive a larger share of government revenues, arguing that the legislation would hurt Taiwan's fiscal sustainability. Premier Cho had also declined to countersign the legislation on 15 December, which Lai cited as a reason not to approve the law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-19 |title=KMT, TPP vow to impeach President Lai - Focus Taiwan |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202512190009 |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=Focus Taiwan - CNA English News |language=en-US}}</ref> This was unprecedented in the constitutional history of Taiwan and was strongly criticised by the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP).<ref>{{Cite web |last=聯合新聞網 |title=財劃法閣揆不副署 賴總統給韓國瑜函文曝光 |url=https://udn.com/news/story/124680/9205633 |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=聯合新聞網 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref> Those parties compared Lai to Yuan Shikai, a historical figure associated with autocratic rule, and subsequently began {{Ill|Impeachment of Lai Ching-te|lt=impeachment proceedings against him|zh|賴清德彈劾案}} in the Legislative Yuan.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 December 2025 |title=KMT, TPP vow to impeach President Lai |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202512190009 |access-date=20 December 2025 |work=Focus Taiwan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-19 |title=一文看清台湾在野党提案“弹劾赖清德”的来龙去脉 |url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/articles/c14v275n35eo/simp |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=BBC |language=zh-hans}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |date=2025-12-19 |title=KMT, TPP vow to impeach President Lai - Focus Taiwan |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202512190009 |access-date=2025-12-28 |website=Focus Taiwan - CNA English News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-23 |title=KMT, TPP to begin impeachment proceedings against President Lai Friday - Focus Taiwan |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202512230020 |access-date=2025-12-28 |website=Focus Taiwan - CNA English News |language=en-US}}</ref>
A motion to initiate the impeachment process passed on 26 December, with all KMT and TPP members voting in support and all DPP members voting against.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=2025-12-26 |title=Legislature passes motion to start impeachment proceedings against Lai - Focus Taiwan |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202512260010 |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Focus Taiwan - CNA English News |language=en-US}}</ref> The Legislative Yuan hosted two impeachment inquiries, in January and May 2026; Lai did not attend either session.<ref>{{Cite news |title=史上首例總統彈劾案審查會 藍白控釀憲政危機、綠批政治操作 |url=https://news.pts.org.tw/article/791649 |archive-date=2026-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260308005754/https://news.pts.org.tw/article/791649 |url-status=live |work=PTS News|date=2026-01-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=賴總統再缺席彈劾審查會 立院邀請函也被總統府「已讀不回」|url=https://udn.com/news/story/6656/9499278|date=2026-05-13|author=蔡晉宇 |website=United Daily News|language=zh-tw}}</ref> On May 19, the Legislative Yuan voted 56 to 50 in favor of impeachment, but this did not reach the two-thirds supermajority required to do so.<ref>{{cite web|title=史上首次總統彈劾案 56贊成50反對不通過|url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202605190104.aspx|website=Central News Agency|author=王揚宇|date=2026-05-19|access-date=2026-05-19}}</ref>
=== Foreign relations === [[File:Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence meets with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, 2025 (54271236999).jpg|thumb|Lai with former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on 17 January 2025]] Under Lai, Taiwan continued the previous administration's New Southbound Policy, signing an investment pact with Thailand in June 2024. Thailand became the fifth trading partner to sign an investment agreement with Taiwan since the announcement of the policy in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |date=30 June 2024 |title=Taiwan, Thailand sign bilateral investment agreement |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2024/06/30/2003820109 |access-date=30 June 2024 |work=Taipei Times}}</ref> Facing the Trump administration's imposition of tariffs on Taiwan under the banner of "reciprocal tariffs," Lai announced plans to increase procurement from and investment in the United States, in addition to eliminating trade barriers.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 April 2025 |title=President Lai delivers remarks on US tariff policy response |url=https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/6935 |access-date=17 December 2025 |website=Office of the President}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Blanchard |first=Ben |date=6 April 2025 |title=Taiwan eyes zero tariffs with US, pledges more investment |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/taiwan-wont-take-reciprocal-tariffs-against-us-will-remove-trade-barriers-2025-04-06/ |access-date=17 December 2025 |work=Reuters}}</ref>
Lai stated that the ROC and the PRC are not subordinate to each other.<ref name="Kawashima2024">{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2024/11/lai-ching-te-and-the-republic-of-china-and-motherland-theories/|title=William Lai and the 'Republic of China' and 'Motherland' Theories|website=The Diplomat|last=Kawashima|first=Shin|date=29 November 2024|access-date=24 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202103058/https://thediplomat.com/2024/11/lai-ching-te-and-the-republic-of-china-and-motherland-theories/|archive-date=2 December 2024}}</ref> He reaffirmed the island's commitment to resisting PRC's annexation, emphasizing its sovereignty during National Day celebrations. He also expressed hopes for dialogue with Beijing, despite ongoing military pressure and tensions.<ref>{{Cite news|date=10 October 2024|title=William Lai vows to 'resist annexation' of Taiwan as China exerts military, political pressure|newspaper=Hongkong Free Press|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2024/10/10/taiwans-president-lai-ching-te-vows-to-resist-annexation-during-speech-to-mark-islands-national-day/|access-date=10 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 October 2024|title=Taiwan's President William Lai vows to 'resist annexation' during speech to mark island's National Day|newspaper=The Straits Times|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taiwan-president-lai-vows-to-resist-annexation-of-island|access-date=10 October 2024}}</ref> In 2025, Lai announced plans to reinstate military trials for active-duty personnel and labeled the PRC a "foreign hostile force" under the Anti-Infiltration Act.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fang|first1=Wei-li|last2=Khan|first2=Fion|date=14 March 2025|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2025/03/14/2003833400|title=Military courts to be reinstated: Lai|work=Taipei Times|access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref><ref name="Guandian2025">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/14/taiwan-president-lai-ching-te-china-hostile-force-speech|title=Taiwan's president labels China a 'foreign hostile force' and ramps up security measures citing 'infiltration'|work=The Guardian|date=14 March 2025|access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref>
== Political views == Previously, Lai was viewed as a "deep green" member of the DPP who advocated for Taiwanese independence.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chung |first=Lawrence |date=20 August 2023 |title=Taiwanese presidential front runner William Lai uses US stopover to ditch pro-independence tag |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3231519/taiwanese-presidential-front-runner-william-lai-uses-us-stopover-ditch-pro-independence-tag |access-date=13 January 2024 |work=South China Morning Post |archive-date=13 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113164626/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3231519/taiwanese-presidential-front-runner-william-lai-uses-us-stopover-ditch-pro-independence-tag |url-status=live }}</ref> However, he has since moderated his position. In 2017, Lai described his stance as "having an affinity to China while loving Taiwan,"<ref>{{cite news |date=26 June 2017 |title=賴清德︰親中愛台 創造團結台灣平台 |url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/paper/1113791 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626032822/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/paper/1113791 |archive-date=26 June 2017 |access-date=22 December 2022 |work=The Liberty Times |language=zh}}</ref> and referred to himself as a "pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence."<ref name="TT2017"/><ref name="LTN2017"/> He argued that there is no need to declare independence because Taiwan is already a sovereign, independent country called the Republic of China.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 April 2018 |title=Lai explains approach to independence |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/04/16/2003691399 |access-date=21 May 2024 |publisher=Taipei Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Cindy |last2=Weber |first2=Joel |date=15 August 2023 |title=Taiwan's Election Is All About War |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-08-14/why-taiwan-s-2024-election-is-all-about-threat-of-war-with-china |access-date=13 January 2024 |work=Bloomberg News |archive-date=20 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820064420/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-08-14/why-taiwan-s-2024-election-is-all-about-threat-of-war-with-china |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Diplomat">{{Cite news |author=Brian Hioe |date=20 May 2024 |title=With Lai Ching-te Inauguration, Taiwan Has a New President |url=https://thediplomat.com/2024/05/with-lai-ching-te-inauguration-taiwan-has-a-new-president/ |access-date=21 May 2024 |publisher=The Diplomat |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520145617/https://thediplomat.com/2024/05/with-lai-ching-te-inauguration-taiwan-has-a-new-president/|archive-date=20 May 2024}}</ref> Lai maintains that the Republic of China, founded in 1912, has been reborn as a new nation on Taiwan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.tvbs.com.tw/politics/1266627|title=「1911的中華民國不存在」 賴：已在台新生|work=TVBS|date=22 January 2020|access-date=21 December 2025|language=zh}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ydn.com.tw/tw/News/ugC_News_Detail.aspx?ID=630461|title=賴總統：臺灣必須堅持民主 確保國家永續|work=Youth Daily News|language=zh|date=14 March 2026|access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> He further explained in 2026 that the term "Taiwan independence" actually means that Taiwan does not belong to the People's Republic of China, and that the ROC and the PRC are not subordinate to each other.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202605170013|title=Taiwan not part of PRC, Lai says, after Trump warning on 'independence'|work=Focus Taiwan|date=17 May 2026|access-date=20 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202605170129.aspx|title=賴清德：台獨意涵是指台灣不屬於中華人民共和國|work=Central News Agency|language=zh|date=17 May 2026|access-date= 20 May 2026}}</ref>
Lai treats "Republic of China," "Taiwan," and "Republic of China Taiwan" as interchangeable names for the nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.president.gov.tw/News/6816|title=President Lai delivers 2024 National Day Address|website=Office of the President|date=10 October 2024|access-date=21 December 2025}}</ref> He believes that retaining the name "Republic of China" helps foster unity within Taiwanese society because the name is enshrined in the constitution.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.pts.org.tw/article/784725|title=賴清德指台灣不須另宣布獨立 「中華民國」國號有助團結|work=PTS|date=7 December 2025|access-date=22 December 2025|language=zh}}</ref> Whether one identifies with "Taiwan" or the "Republic of China," he argues that both refer to the people of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. However, when referring to representative sports teams, Lai pointedly uses the English phrase "Team Taiwan" to emphasize the "Taiwan" designation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/sports/202603080010|title=President, premier congratulate Team Taiwan on 2nd WBC victory|work=Focus Taiwan|date=8 March 2026|access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref>
Lai has been a vocal critic of the Republic of China (ROC) Constitution. He stated that the document was originally drafted for China rather than being tailor-made for Taiwan.<ref name="cna2019">{{cite news|url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/201901230152.aspx|title=辜寬敏推制定新憲法 賴清德：時機到了|work=Central News Agency|date=23 January 2019|access-date=22 December 2025|language=zh}}</ref> Lai has asserted that the representatives who drafted the original ROC Constitution were not chosen through a popular vote by the people of Taiwan; he maintains that it was not until the seven subsequent constitutional amendments that the Taiwanese people became the primary subjects of the constitutional framework.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/articles/c78nz0qqwpvo/trad|title=「未參與制憲」言論爭議：台灣主體性與中華民國歷史的拉鋸戰|work=BBC|date=3 July 2025|access-date=21 December 2025|language=zh}}</ref> He noted that despite these amendments, systemic issues persist.<ref name="cna2019"/> Furthermore, he argued that the tension between "Great China" ideologies and the consciousness of Taiwan as a "community of common destiny" continues to impact national unity.<ref name="cna2019"/> He rejects interpreting the ROC Constitution through a "One China" framework that links Taiwan and mainland China, questioning whether it can truly serve as a guardian for cross-strait relations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2023/12/31/2003811398|title=Candidates clash over China in debates|work=Taipei Times|date=31 December 2023|access-date=22 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5069403|title=Ko slams Lai's remarks on Taiwan independence and ROC constitution|work=Taiwan News|date=31 December 2023|access-date=21 December 2025}}</ref> He specifically sparked controversy by asking whether treating the ROC Constitution as a safeguard would, in fact, bring disaster to Taiwan.
Lai has rejected the 1992 Consensus and maintains that the ROC and the PRC are not subordinate to each other.<ref name="Kawashima2024"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6223724|title=Lai says it's impossible that accepting '1992 consensus,' one-China principle would bring peace|work=Taiwan News|date=20 October 2025|access-date=20 May 2026}}</ref> In September 2024, Lai challenged the PRC's justification for its claims over Taiwan, arguing that if "territorial integrity" were Beijing's primary concern, it would also seek to reclaim territories ceded to Russia under the 19th-century Treaty of Aigun.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/if-china-wants-taiwan-it-should-also-take-back-land-russia-president-says-2024-09-02/|title=If China wants Taiwan it should also take back land from Russia, president says|work=Reuters|date=2 September 2024|access-date=23 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.pts.org.tw/article/713137|title=賴清德提中國應收回俄佔領土論 俄國：台灣無權代表北京發言|work=PTS|date=4 September 2024|access-date=23 December 2025|language=zh}}</ref> Lai asserted that the PRC's true objective is not territorial but strategic, aimed at overturning the rules-based international order and establishing hegemony in the West Pacific. At a 2024 National Day event, he introduced what media termed the "Motherland Theory," arguing that because the ROC was founded in 1912 and the PRC in 1949, the PRC cannot logically be the motherland of the older ROC's citizens.<ref name="Kawashima2024"/> In 2025, he labeled the PRC a "foreign hostile force,"<ref name="Guandian2025"/> claiming that a real advocate of the ROC must oppose the Chinese Communist Party, while a real advocate of Taiwan must safeguard Taiwan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202506240029|title='Oppose CCP and safeguard Taiwan' key to unity: Lai|work=Focus Taiwan|date=24 June 2025|access-date=21 December 2025}}</ref>
Lai advocates strengthening Taiwan's relations with the United States and other liberal democracies,<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Buckley |first1=Chris |last2=Chien |first2=Amy Chang |last3=Liu |first3=John |last4=Cave |first4=Damien |date=13 January 2024 |title=In a Setback for Beijing, Taiwan Elects Lai Ching-te as President |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/13/world/asia/taiwan-election-china-us.html |access-date=13 January 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=13 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113050945/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/13/world/asia/taiwan-election-china-us.html |url-status=live }}</ref> seeking to construct a "democratic umbrella" and establish democratic industrial supply chains.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5919052|title=Taiwan President vows to boost defense and support 'democratic umbrella' with Japan|work=Taiwan News|date=14 August 2024|access-date=22 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.taiwantoday.tw/Politics/Top-News/265768/Lai-announces-national-strategies-on-defense%252C-semiconductors%252C-Taiwan-US-relations|title=Lai announces national strategies on defense, semiconductors, Taiwan-US relations|website=Taiwan Today|date=17 February 2025|access-date=22 December 2025}}</ref> Lai opposed the rhetoric of "America skepticism," stating that allowing ill-intentioned individuals to deliberately spark skepticism toward the U.S. and turn it into a social consensus would be extremely detrimental to Taiwan.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dotson|first=John|date=August 2023|title=Chinese Information Operations against Taiwan: The 'Abandoned Chess Piece' and 'America Skepticism Theory'|url=https://globaltaiwan.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OR_ASTAW0807FINAL.pdf|website=Global Taiwan Institute|access-date=22 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://video.udn.com/news/1256510|title=不能讓懷疑美國言論成共識 賴清德：不然台灣很危險|work=United Daily News|date=8 January 2023|access-date=22 December 2025|language=zh}}</ref>
==Personal life== Lai married Wu Mei-ju in 1986. Wu worked for Taipower, and was based in Tainan until Lai was elected mayor of the city, and she transferred to Kaohsiung.<ref name="ltn2017">{{cite news |date=7 September 2017 |title=因陪考認識妻子 賴清德：當兵時每日一信鼓勵我 |url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/2186684 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303222359/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/2186684 |archive-date=3 March 2023 |access-date=3 March 2023 |work=Liberty Times |language=zh}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Teng |first1=Pei-ju |date=27 December 2023 |title=ELECTION 2024/Lai's wife makes rare public appearance to endorse husband |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202312270024 |access-date=28 December 2023 |quote=After marrying Lai in 1986, Wu maintained her low-key lifestyle even after her husband entered politics in the 1990s. According to local media reports, Wu applied to be transferred from Taiwan Power Company's Tainan office to Hsinta Power Plant in Kaohsiung after Lai was elected Tainan mayor in 2010 to avoid any conflict of interest. |agency=Central News Agency |archive-date=28 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228013858/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202312270024 |url-status=live }}</ref> The couple raised two sons.<ref name="nikkei180123">{{cite news |last1=Chau |first1=Thompson |date=18 January 2023 |title=After Lai's father died in a coal mine disaster, Lai and his five siblings were brought up by their mother, who made ends meet by taking day job after day job. Born in present-day New Taipei, he was two at the time of the tragedy. |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/William-Lai-eyes-Taiwan-s-presidency-as-new-leader-of-ruling-DPP |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227121103/https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/William-Lai-eyes-Taiwan-s-presidency-as-new-leader-of-ruling-DPP |archive-date=27 December 2023 |access-date=28 December 2023 |work=Nikkei Asia}}</ref>
Lai's first grandson was born in the United States in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |date=30 July 2023 |title=「我家也有小帥哥」 賴清德透露3歲孫子已在台灣 |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202311010208.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240831122956/https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202311010208.aspx |archive-date=31 August 2024 |access-date=31 August 2024 |work=Central News Agency (Taiwan) |language=zh}}</ref>
==Honors== * {{Flag|Taiwan}}: ** 60px Order of Dr. Sun Yat-sen with Grand Cordon (As president) ** 60px Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Flor |last2=Wen |first2=Kuei-shang |title=Outgoing President Tsai honors VP Lai, 12 other officials |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202405130017 |access-date=14 May 2024 |agency=Central News Agency |date=14 May 2024 |archive-date=14 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514062452/https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202405130017 |url-status=live }}</ref> (As President) ** 60px Grand Cordon of the Order of Brilliant Jade (As President)
==See also== * List of current heads of state and government * List of heads of the executive by approval rating
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{clear}} {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == {{Commons category|William Lai|Lai Ching-te}} {{Wikiquote|Lai Ching-te}} * {{Facebook|chingte}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before= Hsu Tain-tsair}} {{s-ttl|title=Mayor of Tainan|years=2010–2017}} {{s-aft|after=Lee Meng-yen<br />{{small|Acting}}}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Lin Chuan}} {{s-ttl|title=Premier of the Republic of China|years=2017–2019}} {{s-aft|after=Su Tseng-chang}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Chen Chien-jen}} {{s-ttl|title=Vice President of the Republic of China|years=2020–2024}} {{s-aft|after=Hsiao Bi-khim}} |- {{s-bef|before=Tsai Ing-wen}} {{s-ttl|title=President of the Republic of China|years=2024–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-break}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Chen Chien-jen}} {{s-ttl|title=DPP nominee for Vice President of the Republic of China|years=2020}} {{s-aft|after=Hsiao Bi-khim}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Chen Chi-mai}} {{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party|years=2023–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Tsai Ing-wen}} {{s-ttl|title=DPP nominee for President of the Republic of China|years=2024}} {{s-inc|recent}} {{s-end}}
{{Presidents of the Republic of China}} {{Vice Presidents of the Republic of China}} {{ROCPMs}} {{Heads of state of republics}} {{APEC Leaders}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lai, Ching-te}} Category:1958 births Category:20th-century Taiwanese medical doctors Category:Democratic Progressive Party chairpersons Category:Democratic Progressive Party Members of the Legislative Yuan Category:Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health alumni Category:Living people Category:Mayors of Tainan Category:Members of the 4th Legislative Yuan Category:Members of the 5th Legislative Yuan Category:Members of the 6th Legislative Yuan Category:Members of the 7th Legislative Yuan Category:National Cheng Kung University alumni Category:National Taiwan University alumni Category:Politicians of the Republic of China on Taiwan from New Taipei Category:Premiers of the Republic of China on Taiwan Category:Presidents of the Republic of China on Taiwan Category:Pro-Americanism Category:Recipients of the Order of Propitious Clouds Category:Tainan Members of the Legislative Yuan Category:Taiwanese anti-communists Category:Taiwanese people of Hoklo descent Category:Taiwanese surgeons Category:Vice presidents of the Republic of China on Taiwan Category:20th-century surgeons