TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Lai Ching-te (賴清德) will become the next president of Taiwan on May 20, and will take the nation’s top office after a career as a physician, legislator, mayor, premier, and vice president.

Lai secured the presidency for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Jan. 13 with just over 40% of the vote and will hold office alongside incoming Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴). Taiwan’s president is the nation’s head of state and has full or partial authority over foreign affairs, the armed forces, national security, cross-strait policy, and a range of other responsibilities.

In addition to his official titles, different parties have dubbed Lai one of the world’s most influential people, dangerous, and a god during his career. His domestic opposition has called him a golden child of independence, which Lai rejects, instead describing himself as a “pragmatic worker” for the cause who seeks peace.

Meanwhile, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) called the usually mild-mannered Lai “fierce” in a campaign video and hinted that he would lead the country better than she did. He has also been named the nation’s best legislator four times by Taiwan’s parliamentary watchdog.

So who is Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s next president?

Lai’s steady rise from low-income working-class roots is a hallmark of his political success story. The 64-year-old was born in New Taipei’s Wanli District to a coal mining family, his father died when he was three, and his mother raised him and his five siblings.  

“One of the biggest assets my father left me was being impoverished,” Lai said in a 2023 Time Magazine interview. “In this environment, I worked harder, more vigorously on everything I did. It gave me a sense of determination.”

Lai attended Municipal Jianguo High School in Taipei, where he was a “serious student” (according to his classmates) with reasonable grades (according to Lai himself). He then studied at National Taiwan University (NTU), National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), and Harvard University in the U.S., where he learned to speak English.

At Harvard, he received a Master of Public Health and specialized in public health and rehabilitation. He specialized in kidney and spinal cord health during his time as a physician.

Lai said that it was during his time at NTU that he became interested in politics, as he and his classmates watched the Kaohsiung Incident and its aftermath unfold. He said the incident filled young people with doubts about the future of the country, and that he saw it as having made more people care about Taiwan’s development.

After working for other candidates' political campaigns, Lai first sought election to the now-defunct National Assembly in 1996. He was first elected to public office in 1998 as a representative for Tainan in the Legislative Yuan.

Lai said that his wife once questioned his decision to join the DPP, suggesting he join the Kuomintang (KMT) instead. Lai said he chose the DPP because he wanted to promote constitutional reform.

During his time as a legislator, Lai was a member of the DPP’s New Tide faction, which once pushed for Taiwan's independence to be included in the party’s charter. This, along with later independence-related comments gave rise to the “golden child” label.

As a legislator, Lai gained notoriety for a one-time fiery and expletive-laden exchange with a KMT lawmaker attempting to block a bill approving U.S. weapons purchases. Lai’s reputation as a softly-spoken and friendly figure added to the intrigue surrounding the incident, during which he accused his KMT counterpart of “destroying the nation.”

Lai also received his degree from Harvard University while he was a legislator. He served four consecutive terms in the legislature representing Tainan, stepping down to run for the Tainan mayoralty in 2010.

As Tainan mayor, Lai earned the moniker “the god Lai” (賴神), used among supporters impressed with his anti-corruption efforts. After two terms as mayor, Lai became the nation's premier in 2017.

Lai resigned as premier in 2019, following the DPP's crushing defeat in local elections the year prior. Lai then challenged Tsai as the DPP’s presidential candidate in 2020, though Tsai won the ensuing primary, and Lai went on to become her vice president.

Past statements Lai has made regarding Taiwan’s independence have been cited by his opposition during election campaigning as indicative of his current political position. However, on the campaign trail, Lai said he prioritizes cross-strait peace and the status quo, and some have described the pro-independence label as inaccurate. 

Lai will take the helm as Taiwan faces growing demands for energy and natural resources from a technology sector crucial to global commerce. His government will do this as Taiwan continues on the path toward net-zero emissions, managing the massive infrastructure projects needed to transition from fossil fuels to renewables.

He has also promised to implement a range of measures to tackle sky-high housing prices, including rent subsidies, and more social housing. Continuing on the path set by Tsai, he will lead Taiwan at a time of unprecedented challenges and opportunities.