Taiwan’s Premier Su Tseng-chang resigned on Thursday, a day after the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) suffered a major defeat in local elections, seen as a referendum on President Tsai Ing-wen’s leadership amid rising tensions with China.
Su submitted his resignation to Tsai, who accepted it, the presidential office said in a statement. Su will stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new premier is appointed.
Tsai is expected to announce a new premier and cabinet reshuffle in the coming days. The DPP suffered a major setback in Saturday’s local elections, losing control of several key cities and counties to the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party.
The DPP’s defeat has been seen as a sign of public discontent with Tsai’s handling of the economy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and relations with China.
Tsai has vowed to listen to the public’s concerns and make changes to her government. She has also said that she will continue to stand up to China’s military threats and economic pressure.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to bring it under its control, by force if necessary. Taiwan has rejected China’s claims and says it is an independent country.
The US has expressed concern over China’s threats to Taiwan and has said that it will continue to support Taiwan’s self-defense. However, the US has also said that it does not support Taiwan independence.
The situation in the Taiwan Strait is a major source of tension between the US and China. The US has warned China against any attempt to use force against Taiwan, while China has accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs.
The resignation of Premier Su Tseng-chang is a significant development in Taiwan. It is a sign of public discontent with President Tsai Ing-wen’s leadership and could lead to a major shift in Taiwan’s political landscape.
It is unclear at this time what impact Su’s resignation will have on Taiwan’s relations with China and the US. However, it is clear that the situation in the Taiwan Strait remains a major source of tension between the two superpowers..
