China defeats ruling Democratic Progressive Party candidate Li Ching-de before Taiwan's presidential election

A spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, which is in charge of Taiwan policy in the Chinese government, said of the Taiwan presidential election to be held in January 2024, "It is a wicked way to adhere to the position of 'Taiwan independence' and collude with external forces to provoke it," and strongly criticized the candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Li Ching-de, who is showing a stance of opposing Chinese pressure in cooperation with the United States and other countries.

In the January 2024 presidential election in Taiwan, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will file a candidacy by November 1 in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the
current Vice President Li
Ching-dek in the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT),
incumbent New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-yi,
and the second opposition People's Party (People's Party) will
file their candidacy by November 2. The election campaign was contested by candidates from the three major political parties.

On the 11th, Chen Bin Hua, spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, which is in charge of Taiwan policy in the Chinese government, held his first press conference after the deadline for accepting candidacies for the Taiwan presidential election.

In his speech, Chen emphasized that the DPP's Li Ching-de "stubbornly adhering to the position of 'Taiwan independence' and colluding with external forces to provoke it will only lead to tension and agitation in the Taiwan Strait situation, which is a wicked path and a dead end."

He also said, "'Taiwan independence' means war," and strongly rebuked Mr. Yori, who is taking a stance against Chinese pressure in cooperation with the United States, Japan, and other countries.

On the other hand, when asked about Hou Youyi of the Kuomintang and Ke Wen-che of the KMT, who have called for the need to expand exchanges with China, Chen said simply, "We will work with Taiwanese political parties, organizations, and people from all walks of life, including the KMT, to return cross-strait relations to the right track of peace and development."

With just over a month to go until the election, China seems to be aiming to shake Taiwanese public opinion by condemning Mr. Li.