China brushes aside Taiwan elections: ‘Reunification still inevitable’

China said "reunification" with Taiwan remained "inevitable" after president-elect Lai Ching-te won Saturday's pivotal election on the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own.

Lai, branded by China as a threat to peace, won an unprecedented third consecutive term for Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after he pitched himself as the defender of the island's democratic way of life.

In a statement issued after Lai emerged as the winner, Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua said in a statement that the vote "will not impede the inevitable trend of China's reunification", according to state news agency Xinhua.

The results of the vote, Chen said, showed that the DPP "cannot represent the mainstream public opinion on the island".

Chen also said the vote "will not change the basic landscape and development trend of cross-Strait relations".

Beijing's stance on "realising national reunification remains consistent, and our determination is as firm as rock", he said, adding that "Taiwan is China's Taiwan".

The Taiwan question is China’s internal affair. Whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change. The one-China principle is the solid anchor for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) January 13, 2024

He said Beijing "firmly oppose(s) the separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence' as well as foreign interference".

He said the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair.

"Whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change; the Chinese government’s position of upholding the one-China principle and opposing “Taiwan independence” separatism, “two Chinas” and “one China, one Taiwan” will not change; and the international community’s prevailing consensus on upholding the one-China principle and long-standing and overwhelming adherence to this principle will not change. The one-China principle is the solid anchor for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We believe that the international community will continue to adhere to the one-China principle, and understand and support the Chinese people’s just cause of opposing “Taiwan independence” separatist activities and striving to achieve national reunification."

The election was watched closely by both Beijing and Washington, Taiwan's main military partner, as the two powers tussle for influence in the strategically vital region.

In a New Year's address, Chinese President Xi Jinping had said the "unification" of Taiwan with China was "inevitable".

And in the run-up to the vote, Beijing warned that Lai was a "severe danger" who would threaten peace by following the "evil path" of independence.