China says ‘strongly deplores’ U.S. statement on Taiwan election

China said on January 14 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.

China said on January 14 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.

Mr. Lai triumphed over his nearest rival Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang on January 13 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 U.S. State Department on January 13 congratulated Mr. 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 January 14, a spokesperson for Beijing’s foreign ministry said the U.S. 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 U.S. 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.