China Says Taiwan Election Result Won’t Change Relations

Sat Jan 13 2024
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BEIJING: Spokesperson of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Chen Binhua, said on Saturday the victory of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate, William Lai Ching-te, in the election would not change the basic landscape of cross-strait relations.

A spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said that the results showed the DPP cannot represent mainstream public opinion on the island. The spokesperson said that the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair.

“Whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change; the Chinese government’s position of upholding the one-China principle and opposing “Taiwan independence” separatism, “two Chinas” and “one China, one Taiwan” will not change; and the international community’s prevailing consensus on upholding the one-China principle and long-standing and overwhelming adherence to this principle will not change,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the one-China principle is the solid anchor for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. “We believe that the international community will continue to adhere to the one-China principle and understand and support the Chinese people’s just cause of opposing “Taiwan independence” separatist activities and striving to achieve national reunification,” he said.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said in a statement that the election results “will not impede the inevitable trend of China’s reunification.” He added that the outcome demonstrated that Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) “cannot represent the mainstream public opinion on the island.”

Noting that Taiwan is China’s Taiwan, the spokesperson said that the elections will not change the basic landscape and development trend of cross-Strait relations, will not alter the shared aspiration of compatriots across the Taiwan Strait to forge closer relations, and will not impede the inevitable trend of China’s reunification.

“Our stance on resolving the Taiwan question and realizing national reunification remains consistent, and our determination is as firm as a rock,” Chen said.

Chen said that China will adhere to the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle and firmly oppose the separatist activities aimed at ‘Taiwan independence’ and foreign interference.

He said the mainland will work with relevant political parties, groups, and people from various sectors in Taiwan to boost cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, enhance cross-strait integrated development, jointly promote Chinese culture, and advance the peaceful development of cross-strait relations as well as the cause of national reunification.

Beijing’s commitment to achieving national reunification remains unwavering, according to Chen, who stated that their stance is consistent, and their determination is as firm as a rock.

He reiterated China’s opposition to separatist activities aimed at “Taiwan independence” and foreign interference.

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