Two years in office: Crisis of Lai's governance deepens

Editor's note: Zhou Wenxing, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an associate professor at the School of International Studies (SIS) and assistant dean of Huazhi Institute for Global Governance, Nanjing University. He writes extensively on comparative politics and international relations, with an emphasis on the Taiwan question and China-US relations. The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

May 20 marks the second year since the leader of the Taiwan region, Lai Ching-te, took office. He made a speech hyping up his so-called achievements, namely "remaining democratic and free lifestyle," "keeping peaceful status across the Taiwan Strait" and "promoting local economic development." These preposterous statements are nothing but a lie.

In particular, Lai claims that increasing "defense spending" is not intended to provoke confrontation, but to prevent war. But the fact is, by pushing massive arms purchases and seeking "Taiwan independence" through reliance on external forces and military means, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is the real destroyer of the status quo and the primary source of instability across the Taiwan Strait.

Lai's speech reveals that he not only ignores reality but also defies public opinion. On May 19, Taiwan's legislative body held a recorded vote on an impeachment motion against him. Despite the failure of the impeachment vote, the political significance of the vote should not be underestimated.

This is the first impeachment motion targeting a regional leader in Taiwan's history. It is therefore not merely a contest of numbers in the legislature, nor should it be reduced to a routine partisan struggle. What matters more is the political message behind the motion: After two years in office, Lai's governance has triggered mounting dissatisfaction across Taiwan society, exposing both his administrative incompetence and the narrowing public base of the DPP authorities.

Since taking office in 2024, Lai has repeatedly chosen confrontation over dialogue and ideology over people's livelihood. Instead of easing social divisions, however, he has deepened them. He failed to address economic pressure, social inequality, youth anxiety and institutional deadlock. But he has continued to manipulate the "Taiwan independence" narrative to divert public attention. This approach may serve short-term partisan interests, but it cannot resolve Taiwan's real problems nonetheless.

The impeachment motion reflects a broader change in public sentiment. The opposition parties now hold a majority in the legislature, while a large number of people have expressed dissatisfaction with Lai's governance through petitions and public mobilization. More importantly, opinion polls released in April have shown that Lai's disapproval rating has remained high at 47.5%, while his approval stands at 44.5%. His level of trust has also declined in areas traditionally regarded as strongholds of the DPP. This suggests that public frustration is no longer limited to opposition supporters. It has become a mainstream sentiment across Taiwan society.

In fact, Lai and the DPP tend to portray all criticism as partisan confrontation or external pressure. Such rhetoric is both irresponsible and misleading. The core issue is not whether the impeachment motion would pass, but why such a motion has emerged in the first place. When a leader faces an unprecedented impeachment attempt only two years into office, it reveals a serious deficit of political trust.

Lai's predicament is largely self-inflicted. His separatist remarks and policy orientation have continuously undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. By stubbornly promoting a "Taiwan independence" agenda, he has attempted to redefine cross-Strait relations dangerously and provocatively. Such moves not only violate the historical and legal fact that Taiwan is part of China, but also place the people of Taiwan in a more uncertain and riskier environment.

Peace across the Taiwan Strait is not a slogan. It is the fundamental condition for Taiwan's prosperity and the well-being of people on both sides. Any attempt to seek "independence" by relying on external forces is doomed to fail. The more the Lai authorities try to internationalize the Taiwan question and turn Taiwan into a geopolitical pawn, the more they damage the real interests of Taiwan society.

The impeachment vote also exposes internal tensions within the DPP. As Lai's approval rating remains low, doubts over his leadership have grown within the party. Factional contradictions, once covered by electoral mobilization and ideological slogans, are gradually surfacing. The DPP's long-standing strategy of using identity politics to consolidate power is losing effectiveness. When economic and social grievances accumulate, political labels can no longer conceal governance failure.

For the people of Taiwan, the key question is whether the current authorities will continue to drag Taiwan further away from peace, stability, and development. The answer from public opinion is becoming increasingly clear.

In all, the call for impeachment has delivered a strong political warning. A leader who ignores mainstream public concerns, intensifies cross-Strait confrontation and places partisan ideology above people's welfare will inevitably face resistance. The Lai authorities should understand that manipulating the term "Taiwan independence" cannot confer legitimacy. Neither can provoking confrontation bring security.

Recent remarks by US President Donald Trump have further exposed the illusion behind Lai's separatist calculations. In an interview after he visited China, Trump said he is "not looking to have somebody go independent," adding that the United States did not want a war and did not want anyone to say, "Let's go independent, because the United States is backing us." This statement makes clear that even the world's largest economy is unwilling to give separatist forces a blank check. Lai's attempt to rely on external forces to achieve "independence" will fail.

History has repeatedly shown that any attempt to split China is against the will of the Chinese nation and against the trend of the times. Lai Ching-te's governance crisis is not accidental. It is the inevitable result of a separatist line that harms peace, damages Taiwan, and betrays the interests of the people. 

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