TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan on Sunday denounced what it called “false comments” by China against the self-governing island. presidential and parliamentary elections The day before that.
This spat did not bode well for the future of Taiwan-China relations under the victorious president-elect. Lai Chinte,or China-US relations.
The United States said it had asked two former officials to travel to Taiwan this week for post-election talks with political leaders, a move likely to displease China.
Former National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley and former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg arrived in Taipei on Monday and are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, the American Institute in Taiwan said in a news release. Since the United States does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the institute is a de facto U.S. embassy.
With Lai’s victory, the Democratic Progressive Party will hold the position of president for three four-year terms, following the eight years under President Tsai Ing-wen. China portrays the party as a sworn enemy and a major obstacle to its goal of bringing the island of 23 million people under Chinese control.
A statement from Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taiwan Affairs Office of falsehoods in their respective statements released Saturday night after the election results were announced.
In particular, he took issue with China’s frequently repeated statement that Taiwan is an internal problem within China. China considers Taiwan a renegade province and says it should not have a foreign ministry or have any formal relations with foreign governments.
“The Taiwan issue is China’s internal affairs,” China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. No matter what changes happen to Taiwan, the basic fact remains that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is part of China. ”
The statement “completely contradicts international understanding and the current cross-Strait situation. It goes against the expectations of democratic societies around the world and goes against the will of the Taiwanese people to uphold democratic values,” Taiwan said in a statement. said. “Such clichés are not worth refuting.”
Lai, who will take office in May, won a three-way presidential election with 40% of the vote, which was less than the clear majority that Tsai won in 2020. The Democratic Party lost its majority in the Legislative Yuan and ended the election with one fewer seat. than the Kuomintang or Kuomintang. Neither constitutes a majority; Taiwan People’s Party — A relatively new force that won 8 of 113 seats — Possible swing vote on the bill.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement that the results show that the Democratic Progressive Party does not represent mainstream public opinion in Taiwan.
“Our position on resolving the Taiwan issue and realizing national reunification is consistent and our resolve is unwavering,” Chen Bin-hua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a written statement.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by calling on China to “respect the election results, face reality, and abandon its oppression of Taiwan.”
The Chinese military regularly sends fighter jets and warships into the skies and waters near Taiwan. A conflict could involve the United States, which is a major supplier of military equipment for Taiwan’s defense.