Taiwan re-elects ruling party for record third term in victory that will likely infuriate China
The election of William Lai will provoke controversy, Asia Correspondent Debi Edward reports
Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party pulled off a historic third consecutive presidential victory as voters shrugged off warnings by China that their re-election would increase the risk of conflict.
Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s current vice president who also goes by William, declared victory against his two main opposition rivals on Saturday evening.
“I want to thank the Taiwanese people for writing a new chapter in our democracy. We have shown the world how much we cherish our democracy. This is our unwavering commitment,” Mr Lai told reporters.
“We are telling the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will stand on the side of democracy.
"The Republic of China, Taiwan will continue to walk side by side with democracies from around the world,” he added.
Results from Taiwan’s Central Election Committee, which were still being finalised when the victory and concession speeches were being made, showed Lai with 41 percent of the popular vote while his two main rivals trailed with 33 percent and 26 percent respectively.
Mr Lai is currently Taiwan’s vice president from the DPP, which rejects China’s sovereignty claims over the island.
Years ago, the 64-year-old described himself as a “pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence,” which drew criticism from Beijing.
Global reactions
"Taiwan is China's Taiwan," Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Saturday regarding the election results in Taiwan, as reported by the official state news agency Xinhua.
"The results of the two elections in Taiwan this time show that the Democratic Progressive Party does not represent the mainstream public opinion on the island," Mr Chen said.
"This election cannot change the basic pattern and development direction of cross-Strait relations, nor can it change the common desire of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to get closer and closer, nor can it stop the general trend that the motherland will eventually be reunified and will inevitably be reunified," he added.
China issued a strong rebuke in 2022 when Mr Lai became the highest-ranking Taiwanese official in decades to visit nearby Japan to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
US President Joe Biden was asked about the election in Taiwan as he left the White House on Saturday to spend the weekend at the presidential retreat in Maryland. "We do not support independence,” he said.
US Secretary of State congratulated Mr Lai, and also “the Taiwan people for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system and electoral process.”
British Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron gave his “warm congratulations” to victor Lai Ching-te, and said he hoped that China and Taiwan would double down on efforts to “resolve differences peacefully through constructive dialogue”.
China bristles at any claims of independence by Taiwanese politicians and opposes Taipei having formal ties with other countries.
Beijing has repeatedly rejected offers to hold talks with Mr Lai and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
Mr Lai says he remains open to speaking with China without conceding Taiwan’s right to rule itself.
“As long as there is equality and dignity on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan’s door will always be open,” he said in December.
A physician who studied public health at Harvard University, the new president has held public office for the past 25 years, including as a legislator and mayor of the southern city of Tainan.
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