‘Face reality’: Taiwan tells China over weekend poll results

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Taiwan on Sunday called on China to “face reality” after the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) William Lai Ching-te won the presidential elections on Saturday.

China must face reality and “abandon its efforts to exert pressure on Taiwan," the island nation's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Earlier, Beijing said the outcome of weekend polls “cannot represent mainstream opinion in Taiwan,” where Lai received 40.5% of the total 69.24% votes cast, resulting in an unprecedented third consecutive term for a political party.

If the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are to resume positive interactions and cross-strait relations are to get back on track, Beijing must "respect the results of its election," the official Focus Taiwan daily said, citing the ministry statement.

It added: “Taiwan's 12 diplomatic allies and the governments or parliaments of over 50 countries around the world had sent congratulations following the Jan. 13 presidential and legislative elections.”

China considers Taiwan as a "breakaway province," while Taipei has insisted on independence since 1949.

Beijing has snapped cross-Strait dialogue since DPP, seen as pro-independence by China, came to power in 2016.

Lai's DPP, however, lost its 113-seat majority in the parliament, the first time since 2004 that no party has been able to secure the number.

Taipei called China’s Foreign Ministry statement that Taiwan was “its internal affair” as "ridiculous."

The US and its allies greeted Lai and his party on their win, prompting Beijing to protest.

Although President Joe Biden said Washington "does not" support Taiwan's independence, which China claims as its own, an "unofficial delegation" from the US will meet in Taipei for "post-election talks."