Lai Ching-te
Lai Ching-te (Chinese: 賴清德; Hanyu Pinyin: Lài Qīngdé; Tongyong Pinyin: Lài Cing-dé; Wade–Giles: Lai4 Ch’ing1-te2; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lōa Chheng-tek; Zhuyin Fuhao: ㄌㄞˋ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄉㄜˊ; 6 October 1959), also known as William Lai, is a Taiwanese politician and former physician who is the current vice president and president-elect of Taiwan, having won the 2024 presidential election. His inauguration will be held on 20 May 2024. He is due to be the third incumbent vice president of Taiwan to become president, and the first to assume the office through election instead of a predecessor's death.
Lai Ching‑te | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
賴清德 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Official portrait, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President-elect of the Republic of China | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assuming office 20 May 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Premier | Cho Jung-tai | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President | Hsiao Bi-khim (elect) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeding | Tsai Ing-wen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12th Vice President of the Republic of China | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 20 May 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President | Tsai Ing-wen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Chen Chien-jen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18th Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 18 January 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Secretary General | Hsu Li-ming Yang Yi-shan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Chen Chi-mai (acting) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29th Premier of the Republic of China | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 8 September 2017 – 14 January 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President | Tsai Ing-wen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice Premier | Shih Jun-ji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Lin Chuan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Su Tseng-chang | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st Mayor of Tainan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 25 December 2010 – 7 September 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Hsu He-chun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Hsu Tain-tsair | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Li Meng-yen (acting) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the Legislative Yuan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1 February 2008 – 25 December 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | Tainan II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1 February 1999 – 31 January 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | Tainan City | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 6 October 1959 Wanli, Taipei County, Taiwan (Now Wanli, New Taipei City, Taiwan) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Democratic Progressive Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Wu Mei-ju (m. 1986) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 賴清德 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 赖清德 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born to a working-class coal mining family in Taipei County, Lai studied rehabilitation and public health at universities in Taipei, ultimately obtaining a Master's degree from Harvard University in 2003. After serving as the president of the National Physician Support Association, Lai ran in the 1996 Legislative Yuan election, winning a seat representing Tainan City. After being re-elected to the Legislative Yuan four consecutive times, Lai ran for Mayor of Tainan in 2010. Lai won and served as mayor for seven years, winning reelection in 2014. In September 2017, President Tsai Ing-wen announced Lai would replace outgoing premier Lin Chuan. He has served as vice president since 2020.
On 24 November 2018, Lai announced his intention to resign from the premiership after the Democratic Progressive Party suffered a major defeat in local elections, and left office on 14 January 2019 after the swearing-in of his successor Su Tseng-chang. Lai mounted a challenge against Tsai in the 2019 Democratic Progressive Party presidential primary and after defeat, served as Tsai's running mate in the 2020 Taiwan presidential election in which the tandem was victorious. In April 2023, Lai was nominated by the DPP as their presidential candidate for the 2024 presidential election and was elected with 40.05% of votes.
Describing himself as a "pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence", Lai favors preserving the current status quo in regards to the political status of Taiwan, arguing that it is already independent, as well as strengthening relations with the United States and other liberal democracies.