Taiwan called on China yesterday (Sunday) to face reality and respect the results of the presidential elections, which ended with the victory of Lai Ching-ti, who supports the independence of the autonomous island that Beijing considers part of its territory.
In a statement, the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on “Beijing authorities to abandon their oppression of Taiwan, for positive interactions across the Strait to return to the right track”.
Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-tei and outgoing Vice President Tsai Ing-wen yesterday pledged to defend the island in the face of China’s continued threats and intimidation.
China had considered that “there was no danger.” Because of his pro-independence positions, and after his victory yesterday, Beijing stressed that “reunification” with Taiwan is “inevitable.”
Lai Ching-te, the ruling party’s candidate, won the presidential elections in Taiwan held on Saturday, and China described it as a “choice between war and peace.”
The opposition Kuomintang party’s candidate, Hu Yue, conceded defeat.
With this result, the Democratic Progressive Party, which champions Taiwan’s independent identity and rejects China’s claims to sovereignty over it, assumes power for a third consecutive term, which is unprecedented in Taiwan’s electoral system. Speaking to reporters in the southern city of Tainan before the vote, Lai encouraged citizens to cast their votes.
“Every vote counts, this is Taiwan’s hard-won democracy,” he said in brief remarks.
In the run-up to the election, China repeatedly denounced Taiwan’s leading presidential candidate as a “dangerous separatist” and rejected his repeated calls for talks with it. The Chinese government said (Saturday), “Taiwan is China’s Taiwan, and the results of the presidential elections in Taiwan show that the ruling party’s pro-independence candidate, William Lai, who won the elections, does not represent the prevailing public opinion on the island.”
She added: “The election result will not change the pattern and direction of development of relations across the Taiwan Strait, between China and the island,” according to “Agence France-Presse.”
It stated that “Beijing’s position on resolving the Taiwan issue and achieving national unity (unifying mainland China with Taiwan) remains consistent, and its resolve is as solid as stone.”
It stressed its firm opposition to “separatist activities” aimed at “Taiwan independence” as well as foreign interference.
She said that she will work with relevant political parties, groups, and people from various sectors in Taiwan to enhance cross-Strait cooperation and exchange.
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