China deplores US over Taiwan poll statement

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China on Sunday strongly deplored and opposed the US statement on the outcome of the presidential elections in Taiwan, which Beijing considers its own territory.

“It violates the one-China principle, the three China-US joint communiques and the US own commitment to maintaining only cultural, commercial and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

After the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's William Lai Ching-te won the presidential elections in Taiwan on Saturday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "We congratulate Dr. Lai Ching-te on his victory in Taiwan's presidential election. We also congratulate the Taiwan people for participating in free and fair elections and demonstrating the strength of their democratic system.”

However, later in brief remarks on Taiwan polls, US President Joe Biden said, "We do not support independence" of Taiwan.

After the presidential elections’ final results, China said Lai’s win “cannot represent mainstream opinion in Taiwan.”

Lai received 40.5% of the total 69.24% votes cast, giving the Democratic Progressive Party an unprecedented third consecutive term.

Hua, the spokeswoman said on Sunday that Beijing urges the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, as well as honor its leaders’ commitment to not support “Taiwan independence,” “two Chinas,” or “one China, one Taiwan,” and “not seeking to use the Taiwan question as a tool to contain China.”

“The US needs to stop interactions of an official nature with Taiwan and stop sending any wrong signal to separatist forces for ‘Taiwan independence’,” she said in a statement.

Immediate tensions between Beijing and Washington over Taiwan election results are expected to persist for some time, as two former US officials are expected to arrive in Taipei on Sunday for “post-elections talks.”