The Government of Taiwan today asked the Chinese authorities “to respect the electoral results and face the reality” of the island, after Beijing stated that the victory of the current vice president and candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party (PDP), William Lai (Lai Ching-te), does not represent the “majority opinion” of Taiwanese society.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asks the authorities in Beijing to respect the results, face reality and abandon oppression against Taiwan,” said the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry in a statement, alluding to the recent demonstrations by Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Office. of Taiwan Affairs of the State Council (Chinese Executive).
“Only in this way can positive cross-Strait interactions return to the right track as soon as possible and respond positively to the international community’s repeated calls to maintain peace, stability and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait,” the text added. .
In a statement reported today by state media, the Chinese official stated that Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections, held this January 13, “will not alter the shared aspiration of compatriots on both sides of the Strait to forge closer ties,” al while reiterating its commitment to the 1992 consensus, which recognizes the ‘one China’ principle.
Taipei expressed its “discontent” and “condemnation” at the statement that Taiwan constitutes an “internal matter” of China, which is “completely inconsistent with international understanding and the current situation in the Strait.”
“This election once again demonstrates the maturity and stability of Taiwan’s democratic politics. It is also the clearest and firmest response and expectation of the Taiwanese people to the situation in the Taiwan Strait,” the Foreign Ministry statement stated.
This Saturday, Taiwan cemented its commitment to sovereignty with the election of Lai as president of the island for the next four years, an electoral result that predicts an even greater escalation of tensions with China, which considers this territory a rebellious province.
With 100% of the tables counted, the official candidate added 40.05% of the votes, beating the opposition candidates of the Kuomintang (KMT), Hou Yu-ih (33.49% of the votes), and the Party Popular Party of Taiwan (PPT), Ko Wen-Je (26.46%).
In an appearance before the foreign press after learning of his victory, Lai assured that these elections demonstrated to the international community that, between “democracy and authoritarianism”, the Taiwanese chose to remain “on the side of democracy.”
Taiwan – where the Chinese nationalist army withdrew after defeat by communist troops in the civil war – has been governed autonomously since 1949, although China claims sovereignty over the island, which it considers a rebellious province for whose “reunification” has not ruled out the use of force.
