(VORNews) – In an election that will go down in history, Taiwanese people have selected William Lai to be their president, therefore establishing a course that is becoming increasingly distinguishable from China.
Beijing is enraged by the move, as evidenced by the fact that it made a statement to the effect that “Taiwan is part of China” immediately after the results were announced. Although Beijing has advocated for “peaceful reunification,” it has not completely disregarded the possibility of resorting to force.
The election in Taiwan was portrayed as a choice between “war and peace” by the organization. Over the last several months, China has increased its military posture near the island, which has increased the level of concern about the possibility of a clash. The communist authorities in Beijing hold a harsh opinion of the pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has ruled Taiwan for the past eight years under Mr. Lai’s leadership.
William Lai became the first president of his party
Mr. Lai made new history when he became the first president of his party to retain office for three consecutive terms. He made it clear in his initial comments upon his opponents’ concession that this trajectory could not be turned back. Moving ahead, the nation will stay on the correct road. At a news conference, he assured reporters from across the globe that the country will not slow down.
At a later rally in Taipei, where tens of thousands of his fans were celebrating, Mr. Lai hailed his victory as a democratic victory. We’ve finished. We refused to be swayed by outside pressures during the election. We decided that no one else could select our president, he explained.
Taiwan had previously claimed that China was trying to tamper with the voting process. China was also the recipient of Mr. Lai’s message. He urged reporters to avoid obstructionism and confrontation in favor of more conversation and exchanges, and he urged stability and peace with Beijing.
He promised to “protect Taiwan from threats from China” while simultaneously promising to “maintain the cross-strait status quo” and refrain from seeking independence or union with China.
Beijing considers Mr. Lai’s previous statements for Taiwanese independence as a red line and has labeled him a “separatist” and “troublemaker” because of them. However, he has since made it clear that he has no intention of seeking independence in his presidential administration.
According to a statement released on Saturday by the Taiwan Affairs Office of China’s State Council, the Taiwanese elections “cannot stop the unstoppable trend of the eventual reunification of the motherland” and the DPP “cannot represent the mainstream public opinion” in Taiwan.
As Taiwan’s most important friend, the United States wasted no time in congratulating Mr. Lai on his victory. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Taiwan has a “robust democratic system and electoral process” to thank for helping Lai win.
Keeping the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is a top priority for the United States, he stated. According to President Joe Biden’s statement earlier on Saturday, the United States “does not support independence” for Taiwan.
Outside the DPP’s headquarters in Taipei, supporters applauded the outcome. “I’m thrilled right now. Cheng Yu-tsai stated that the majority of Taiwanese people wish to safeguard their democratic lifestyle.
“I don’t care how China reacts. Wei Yi-tsai stated that we must uphold our beliefs, insist on what we believe to be right, and go forward. Mr Lai’s 40% vote share put him well ahead of Hou Yu-ih of the major opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party. Since 2000, Taiwan has alternated between the DPP and the KMT, which is more favorable to Beijing.
Maverick politician Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party, a newcomer to Taiwan’s political scene popular among young people, received one-quarter of the vote. On Saturday, voters also selected their legislators.
According to Taiwanese media, the DPP has lost its majority and the opposition is gaining momentum, but no party has enough seats to dominate parliament. According to observers, an opposition-dominated legislature led by a DPP president might complicate Taiwan’s governance process.
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