TAIPEI -- Former Premier Lai Ching-te declared his candidacy for president Monday in Taiwan's 2020 election, setting the stage for a fierce race with incumbent Tsai Ing-wen to become the nominee of the island's pro-independence ruling party.
"I want to fulfill my responsibility to protect Taiwan," the former premier, also known as William Lai, told reporters at the Democratic Progressive Party's Taipei headquarters. Lai, who previously signaled that he would not challenge Tsai, filed to run on Monday as the DPP began taking applications. Tsai plans to do likewise within the week.
