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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/14/taiwan-election-global-leaders-draw-beijings-ire-for-congratulating-new-president>
"Global leaders have congratulated Lai Ching-te for winning Taiwan’s
presidential election, praising the high turnout and democratic process – and
drawing ire from Beijing, which had hoped to see Taiwan’s ruling party ousted.
Lai won an unprecedented third term in power for the pro-sovereignty Democratic
Progressive party (DPP) in Saturday’s election, with more than 40% of the vote.
Lai is taking over from the DPP’s Tsai Ing-wen, who has been president since
2016, promising to continue her foreign policy efforts in resisting China’s
plans to annex Taiwan.
A spokesperson for the US state department congratulated the Taiwanese people
“for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system
and electoral process”.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the result, US president Joe Biden, who
plans to send an unofficial delegation to Taiwan next week, reiterated that the
US does not support Taiwanese independence.
Nonetheless, China’s foreign ministry said on Sunday that the US state
department statement “seriously violated US promises that it would only
maintain cultural, economic and other non-official ties with Taiwan”. The
Chinese ministry said it had lodged “solemn representations” with the US over
the comments.
The US, the UK, the European Union and Canada also offered their
congratulations to the DPP. The UK’s foreign secretary, David Cameron, said the
result was “testament to Taiwan’s vibrant democracy”.
But the Chinese embassy in the UK said it “firmly opposed the wrong practices
of the British side”, and urged the UK government to “stop any words or deeds
that interfere in China’s internal affairs”.
A congratulatory statement by Japan’s foreign minister, Yoko Kamikawa,
describing Taiwan as “an extremely crucial partner and an important friend,”
was also blasted by Beijing’s embassy in Tokyo as “a serious interference in
China’s internal affairs”."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
