After Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost many seats in the “nine-in-one” local election held on Nov. 26, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen resigned as head of DPP, but will remain the president of Taiwan until her term ends in 2024.
In the local-issues-focused election, candidates from DPP, the opposition Nationalist Party (NP), and a relatively new Taiwan People’s Party competed for mayors, city council members, and other local leaders in all 13 counties and in nine cities. NP won 13 cities and counties, including Taipei, the capital city. DPP only won five cities and counties.
Concerns about threats from China, which claims the self-ruled island as its own, were overshadowed by local issues, such as air pollution in the central city of Taichung, traffic snarls in Taipei, and the COVID-19 vaccine purchasing strategies….