Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing
China reiterated on Saturday that “reunification” with Taiwan is “inevitable” despite Beijing's claimed victory in that island's presidential election. William Lai (Lai Ching-te) from a traditionally independent party.
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The vote “will not hinder the inevitable trend toward reunification of the country,” he said Chen BinhuaSpokesman of the Chinese office responsible for relations with Taiwan, quoted by the official Xinhua agency.
Chen warned against this China will not tolerate “separatist activities” in Taiwan.
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“We will (…) firmly oppose separatist activities aimed at Taiwan's independenceand foreign interference,” he added.
Lai, branded a threat to peace by China, won an unprecedented third consecutive term for Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after already being branded a pro-peace candidate the defender of the island's democratic lifestyle.
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In the statement issued after Lai emerged victorious, Beijing Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua said the vote “will not hinder the inevitable trend of China's reunification,” according to the state agency. Xinhua News.
The voting results, Chen said, showed that the PDP “cannot represent the majority public opinion on the island.”
Chen also said the vote “will not change the basic picture and development trend of cross-strait relations.”
Taiwan's President-elect Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) at a rally after winning the presidential election in Taipei, Taiwan. January 13, 2024. Portal/Ann Wang
Beijing's stance on “realizing national reunification remains consistent and our resolve is rock solid”he said, adding: “Taiwan is China’s Taiwan.”
He said Beijing “strongly opposes separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence' as well as foreign interference.”
The elections have been closely watched by both Beijing and Washington, Taiwan's main military partner, as the two powers vie for influence in a strategically important region.
In a New Year's address, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Taiwan's “unification” with China was “inevitable.”
And ahead of the vote, Beijing warned that Lai was a “serious danger” who would endanger peace if he followed the “bad path” of independence.
For his part, the Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken congratulated Taiwan's elected President Lai Ching-te on Saturday, and praised the autonomous island’s “robust democratic system and electoral process.”
Blinken also said this in a statement Washington is “committed to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.” and for the peaceful settlement of differences, free from coercion and pressure.”
(With information from AFP)