Communications between China and Taiwan were severed in 2016 after former president Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party ( DPP ) took office, pledging to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Lai, even a DPP part, had vowed to keep Tsai’s policies of building up Taiwan’s military capabilities, while remaining opened to dialogue with China and strengthening relations with the island’s partners- especially the United States.
Wen-ti Sung, a non-resident brother at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, told AFP that Lai had “hold supplier to work handle” during this first conversation between his administration and Beijing.
” However he will no doubt be looking to leverage other foreign colleagues and friends to help promote more back-channel connections with Beijing,” Sung said.
Harassment Strategies
Since 2016, Beijing has upped military and political pressure on Taiwan, and its marine arteries, drones and aircraft maintain a near-daily appearance around the area.
Authorities say Beijing is seeking to terrify and destroy Taiwan’s defense monitoring its actions.
On Sunday, two days after the drills ended, Taiwan’s defence ministry reported that seven Chinese aircraft, 14 naval vessels and four coast guard ships were “operating around” the island in a 24-hour period ending at 6am ( 2200 GMT ).
The government also said in a separate declaration that it had found a paper box containing political phrases that it said was left by Beijing on a port in Erdan, an islet piece of Taiwan-controlled Kinmen next to China’s Xiamen.
The defence ministry shrugged off the incident, saying it suspected it was intended to create online chatter.
“MAJOR TEST”
Lai’s first week in office also saw tens of thousands take to the streets of Taipei to protest bills proposed in parliament by the opposition Kuomintang- regarded as pro-Beijing- and Taiwan People’s Party.
DPP lawmakers have been accusing the opposition of forcing the bills- which expand parliament’s powers- through without proper consultation.
With Lai’s DPP no longer holding the majority in parliament, his party will face challenges in passing his administration’s policies, such as bolstering the defence budget.
” The pressures are coming fast and early for the Lai administration,” Amanda Hsiao of the International Crisis Group told AFP.
” This is going to be a major test of their ability to manage multiple challenges, domestic and external, at the same time. “