Lai Ching-te was sworn in as Taiwan’s fifth democratically elected president yesterday, marking a historic third consecutive term for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The inauguration festivities kicked off with processions outside the brick-clad Presidential Office Building. There were marching bands, a military helicopter flyover and, in true Taiwanese fashion, some cuteness – namely, a 10-metre-tall rainbow horse that spewed fog. It was accompanied by a troop of performers dressed as traditional Taiwanese pastries, all singing a song called “Peace and Happiness, Resilient Taiwan”.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out bringing it under control by force. Beijing has previously labelled Lai a “stubborn advocate” for Taiwan’s independence but since his election campaign he has adopted a more pragmatic approach. This shift was evident in his inauguration speech. He proposed resuming tourism with China and increasing the enrolment of Chinese students in Taiwanese institutions, and also urged bipartisan co-operation on domestic issues.

Traditional performers usher in Taiwan’s newest president

On regional stability, he alluded to the destruction caused by other conflicts across the globe, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the war between Israel and Hamas. He put the onus on China, stating that he hoped that it would “respect the choices of the people of Taiwan and choose dialogue over confrontation”, which drew thunderous applause from the crowd.

After the speech, the music came back on and performers flooded the stage. Lai and his vice-president, Hsiao Bi-khim, danced along. At one point, the former raised his hands above his head to form a heart symbol. Despite the fanfare, however, the new president will be aware that his first term won’t be all sweetness and light.

Clarissa Wei is a Monocle contributor based in Taiwan.