Voters in Taiwan on Saturday defied intense pressure from China to re-elect the ruling Democratic Progressive Party to a third consecutive term, electing the island's least popular candidate and threatening the island's democracy with its communist neighbor. This is likely to further heighten tensions between the two parties.
Incumbent Vice President Lai Qingde, branded a “troublemaker” by the Chinese government, won the three-way election with 40% of the vote.
China, which claims Taiwan as its own, supported Hou Yu-hsi of the Nationalist Party, who came in second place with 33% of the vote. Hou had promised to resume diplomatic negotiations with the Chinese Communist Party.
The Taiwan People's Party, a rising force led by Ko Wen-je, came in third place with 26% of the vote.
“The Taiwanese people successfully resisted the efforts of outside forces to influence this election,” Lai said in his acceptance speech.
“We showed the world how much we value democracy,” Lai said. “This is our unwavering promise.”
The Chinese Communist Party has long denounced Lai and incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen, her Democratic Progressive Party's term-term partner, as “separatists” who reject China's sovereignty claims over Taiwan and its stated goal of unification.
Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the China Taiwan Affairs Office, said the results would not change China's policy.
“Our position on resolving the Taiwan issue and achieving national reunification is consistent, and our resolve is as firm as a rock,” Binhua said, according to state news agency Xinhua.
President Biden said Saturday that U.S. policy toward Taiwan will also remain unchanged.
“We do not support independence,” Biden told reporters as he left the White House for a weekend stay at Camp David.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai in a public statement.
“The United States is committed to maintaining peace and stability on both sides of the Strait and to peacefully resolving differences, without coercion or pressure,” Blinken said. “We look forward to working with Dr. Lai and Taiwan's party leaders to advance our common interests and values and further deepen our long-standing informal relationship in line with the United States' One China policy. I'm looking forward to.”
Meanwhile, Russia expressed support for China's unification plan — two weeks after Xi Jinping vowed to end Taiwan's independence in his New Year's address.
“Russia continues to consider Taiwan as an integral part of China,” a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Saturday.
Yun Sang, an expert on Chinese foreign affairs at the Stimson Center think tank, told the Wall Street Journal that “China is expected to take a tough stance against Mr. Lai.” Sanctions are likely to be imposed in the near future.
