Taiwan: Beijing says vote doesn't change 'inevitable' reunification with China

For the third time in a row, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the presidential election in Taiwan on Saturday 13 January. With 40.2% of the vote, Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, vowed to "resist" pressure from China, which for its part said the vote would not hinder the "inevitable" reunification with the mainland.

The victory of Lai Ching-te (pictured) in Taiwan will not hinder the island's "inevitable" reunification with the mainland, Beijing says. REUTERS - ANN WANG

By: RFI Follow

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With our correspondent in Beijing, Stéphane Lagarde

You almost "heard" a fly flying on Chinese social media and official media websites last night when the results of the Taiwan elections were announced. This silence was deafening compared to the jubilation of the voters of the Taiwanese Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which had just achieved three firsts. Turnout is, admittedly, down slightly – just over 69% compared to more than 74% in 2020 – but this is the first time since the democratisation of the country that a party has won a third consecutive term; it is also the first time a former prime minister has become president, and the first time a candidate with an English name has won the election.

« Determination as firm as a rock » 

The Chinese have not heard of all this, or even of Beijing's disappointment in calling the DPP "separatist" and advocating "alternation", preferring a victory for the opposition Kuomintang (KMT). It was therefore necessary to wait until 22:45 p.m. before the press release of the spokesperson of the Taiwanese Affairs Office of the Chinese State Council was published by the New China Agency.

The election result does not represent the majority opinion in Taiwan, Chen Binhua said. "Our position on resolving the Taiwan issue and achieving national reunification remains consistent, and our determination is as firm as a rock," the spokesman said, as patriotic netizens began to rage on social media calling for a swift intervention by the People's Liberation Army in Taiwan. Nationalist hubris was also quickly put under wraps. There is no question of allowing a debate to emerge between the "for" and "against" of universal suffrage... and... yes, censors also work on weekends in mainland China.

International guestTaiwan: After Lai Ching-te's victory, 'it is possible that China will increase pressure'

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  • Taiwan
  • China
  • Diplomacy
  • Lai Ching-te
  • Tsai Ing-wen
  • Xi Jinping