China ‘strongly deplores’ US statement on Taiwan election

China has furiously hit back at a claim from the United States as the world nervously watches a key election in the region.

China has said it “strongly deplored” a statement by the United States as tensions continue to mount over hotly contested territory.

China has said it “strongly deplored” a statement by the United States on the Taiwan election, after Washington congratulated independence-leaning Lai Ching-te on his victory in the self-ruled island’s presidential poll.

Lai triumphed over his nearest rival Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang on Saturday by more than 900,000 votes, rounding off an election campaign marked by diplomatic pressure from Beijing and near-daily incursions by Chinese fighter jets.

China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to seize the island one day.

The US State Department on Saturday congratulated Lai on his victory and hailed the people of Taiwan “for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system and electoral process”.

On Sunday, a spokesperson for Beijing’s foreign ministry said the US statement “sends a gravely wrong signal to the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces”.

“We strongly deplore and firmly oppose this, and have made serious representations to the US side,” the spokesperson said.

They added that Washington’s statement “seriously violates the one-China principle” as well as its pledge to only maintain unofficial ties with Taiwan.

“We urge the US to stop its official interaction with Taiwan and stop sending any wrong signal to the separatist forces for ‘Taiwan independence,’” the spokesperson said.

China has said it ‘strongly deplored’ a statement by the United States on the Taiwan election.

They did not mention the unofficial post-election visit of a US delegation to Taiwan announced Sunday by Washington’s de facto embassy on the island.

It came as Germany called for the status quo to be upheld on Taiwan after Vice President Lai Ching-te won the presidential election, and insisted any change must be done “peacefully and by mutual agreement”.

The foreign ministry congratulated voters and candidates in Saturday’s vote “as well as those who were elected”, without naming Lai.

“Germany is working towards preservation of the status quo and confidence building,” the ministry said.

“The status quo may only be changed peacefully and by mutual agreement.” Berlin wanted to expand relations with the self-ruled island “within the framework of its One-China policy”.

“We hope that both sides will further advance their efforts to re-open a dialogue,” Berlin added.

The US State Department on Saturday congratulated Lai on his victory and hailed the people of Taiwan ‘for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system and electoral process’.

President-elect Lai Ching-te may have won the top job, but he must now chart an uneasy path on the doorstep of an increasingly assertive China.

Despite Beijing’s warnings that Lai’s win would bring “war and decline” to Taiwan, he won comfortably with more than 40 per cent of the vote Saturday.

Ahead of the poll, Beijing warned voters to make the “correct” choice, blasting Lai as a “severe danger” who would threaten peace by following the “evil path” of Taiwan independence.

In a stinging repudiation of China’s threats, Lai and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim received a clear vote of confidence from more than 40 per cent of the 14 million who voted.

“Beijing needs to carefully calibrate its action plans,” said Alexander Huang, a military expert at Tamkang University in Taipei.

“Harsh military pressure may not be immediate given the current US-China relations and the American election cycle... However, Beijing will escalate pressures other than war toward Taiwan.” Taiwan already sees a near-daily presence of Chinese warplanes and naval vessels around it, which have upped global worries of an accidental conflict, particularly after Beijing cut off communications with President Tsai Ing-wen’s administration.

President-elect Lai Ching-te may have won the top job, but he must now chart an uneasy path on the doorstep of an increasingly assertive China.

These “grey zone” tactics — manoeuvres that stop short of an outright act of war — will increase to “ratchet up tension”, said political scientist Wen-ti Sung.

A visiting US delegation right on the heels of the election is likely to anger Beijing — two former senior officials are set to meet “leading political figures” Monday to extend the United States’ congratulations.

In 2022, a Taiwan visit by then-US House speaker Nancy Pelosi triggered China’s biggest-ever military exercises around the island, involving warships, missiles and fighter jets.

But Taiwanese “are voting regardless of this sense of crisis... put up by the opposition parties”, said Ivy Kwek of International Crisis Group.

With younger generations no longer identifying with being Chinese, preserving the status quo in the flashpoint region “has become harder”.

“What we are seeing is that Taiwanese are increasingly having a very distinctive identity different from the mainland China, and... we are seeing a Beijing that is increasingly more powerful,” Kwek said.

“Lastly, we also have a Washington that is... becoming more anxious about China’s intent on Taiwan.” All this means that an already tense situation on the strait will be amplified. “Breakthrough will be hard but it does not mean that things cannot improve,” she said.