Sources: Taiwan’s Presidential Frontrunner Chooses Prominent US Envoy as Running Mate

Taiwan’s presidential frontrunner, Lai Ching-te, has chosen Hsiao Bi-khim, Taipei’s envoy to the United States, as his running mate for the upcoming election in January, according to sources familiar with the matter. Lai, who is currently the vice president and the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) presidential candidate, has consistently led opinion polls despite growing pressure from China to accept its sovereignty claims over Taiwan.

Hsiao, 52, has served as Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the United States since 2020 and has been widely regarded as the most likely choice for Lai’s running mate. The formal announcement will be made on Monday when Hsiao returns to Taiwan from the APEC summit in San Francisco, as revealed by four sources briefed on the matter.

Hsiao is well-known in Washington, D.C. and is expected to play a crucial role as a bridge between Taipei and Washington. Despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, the United States remains Taiwan’s most important arms supplier and international supporter. One source stated that Hsiao’s international experience makes her well-suited for the role.

Vincent Chao, spokesperson for the Lai campaign, declined to comment on Hsiao’s position but assured that an announcement regarding the running mate would be made on Monday. Chao emphasized that the chosen candidate would reinforce their commitment to democracy, peace, and prosperity for Taiwan and the international community.

Ivan Kanapathy, who previously interacted with Hsiao during his time at the U.S. National Security Council, described her as a tireless advocate for Taiwan. Kanapathy, now an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, believes that Hsiao’s knowledge, experience, and relationships would be invaluable for national security and foreign policy in the next Taiwanese administration.

Hsiao has been highly involved in Taiwan’s defense reform efforts, drawing lessons from Ukraine. Initiatives to acquire more munitions, including Patriot missiles and drones, have been part of her focus. Randall Schriver, the former U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, praised Hsiao as a good partner in promoting U.S.-Taiwan relations, stating that her potential vice presidency would undoubtedly benefit the bilateral ties.

The DPP, led by Lai, advocates for Taiwan’s separate identity from China and believes that only the Taiwanese people should determine their future. While the DPP-led government has repeatedly offered talks with Beijing, they have been consistently rejected.

Lai has been speaking highly of Hsiao in recent interviews, describing her as principled and thorough, although he has not directly confirmed her selection as his running mate. Hsiao, who was born in Japan to a Taiwanese father and American mother, previously worked in the office of former president Chen Shui-bian and served as a DPP lawmaker.

Both Lai and Hsiao are disliked by China, which has imposed sanctions on Hsiao on two occasions, most recently in April, labeling her an “independence diehard.” China’s Taiwan Affairs Office referred to Lai and Hsiao as an “independence double act” and stated that Taiwan’s people understand the implications of their partnership for the situation in the Taiwan Strait.

In addition to Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee, Michael Martina in Washington also contributed to this report.