Taiwan today urged China to “face reality” and respect the election results after Lai Ching-te’s victory.
Beijing reacted to Lai’s victory by saying it would not change the “inevitable trend of China’s reunification.”
Lai in turn said he would like cooperation with China but vowed to protect the island from “intimidation” by China, and on Sunday the island’s foreign ministry asked Beijing to recognise the election results:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the Beijing authorities to respect the election results, face reality and give up suppressing Taiwan in order for positive cross-strait interactions to return to the right track.
According to Taiwan’s defence ministry, four Chinese naval vessels were spotted in the waters around the island on polling day and one high-altitude balloon flew over the island. Before the election, China warned Taiwanese voters to make the “correct choice” and that Lai would bring the island closer to war.
Despite this, voter turnout was 72 percent, indicating the enthusiasm of the electorate.
The United States and Britain congratulated Lai on his victory, while the EU hailed the election’s success.
Lai will take power on 20 May with his vice-presidential candidate Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan’s former representative to the United States.
