Taiwan urges Beijing to “respect presidential election results”

first Amendment: 01/14/2024 – 12:01

3 minutes

This Sunday, January 14, Taiwan urged China to “respect the results of the presidential elections” won the day before by official and sovereigntist candidate Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai. .

Election results highlight the path to independence In fact of the island territory and confirms that its citizens want to defend it against threats of reunification from mainland China.

According to a statement from the Taiwanese ministry, “The Foreign Ministry calls on officials in Beijing to respect the election results, face reality and refrain from repressing Taiwan.”

Claiming to have received congratulations from “more than 50 countries, including 12 diplomatic allies”, the organization condemned the “absurd and inappropriate comments” of Chinese officials.

Earlier on Sunday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson reaffirmed on social network X that despite the election, “Taiwan is part of China.”

China declares reunification “inevitable”

On Saturday, after learning the results, the Asian superpower, which considers Taiwan one of its provinces that can be reunified by force if necessary, assured that the vote was “a step towards reunification with China.” “Will not hinder the inevitable trend.”

Acting Vice President Lai Ching-te, 64, won the presidential election in a single round with 40.1% of the vote, after a campaign marked by strong diplomatic and military pressure from China. He will assume charge on May 20.

Lai Ching-te, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party like outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen, has promised to “protect Taiwan from China’s constant threats and intimidation.”

The president-elect, who in the past defined himself as a “pragmatic defender of Taiwan’s independence”, has since relativized his position: like Tsai Ing-wen, he now adopts a more moderate position, this Emphasizing that it is not an independence process necessary because the island is sovereign In fact

With our government and our elections.

But Beijing views Lai as a promoter of “independence-related separatist activities” and a “serious threat” to bilateral relations between the two regions.

US sends an unofficial delegation to Taiwan to show distrust of Beijing

The status of Taiwan is one of the most controversial issues in diplomatic relations between the world’s two superpowers, China and the United States.

This Sunday, the North American country sent an informal delegation to Taiwan that included former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and Laura Rosenberger, president of the American Institute in Taiwan.

According to the institute’s statement, the team on Monday will “meet with several political figures and convey to Taiwan the American people’s congratulations on the success of the election.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai Ching-te and the Taiwanese for their “strong democratic system”. President Joe Biden nevertheless declared, “We do not support freedom.”

The comments already drew a strong reaction from Beijing’s Foreign Ministry, which declared that Washington was “sending extremely wrong signals to separatist forces in favor of ‘Taiwan independence’.” “We condemn and strongly oppose it,” he said.

The United States does not recognize Taiwan as a state and considers the People’s Republic of China to be the sole legitimate government, but nevertheless provides significant military aid to the island.

*AFP