1Berita English – Taiwan’s newly elected President, Lai Ching-te, has pledged to defend his country against China’s ‘intimidation.’ He made this statement after winning the presidential election with 40.2 percent of the votes.
Lai, labeled by China as a threat to regional peace, secured an unprecedented third consecutive term for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
China claims Taiwan, separated from the mainland by a strait spanning 180 kilometers, as its own and rejects ‘unification’ without the use of force.
China had warned Taiwan’s residents before the vote, calling Lai a ‘significant danger’ and urging voters to avoid him. The voting on Saturday (13/1) was said not to deter China’s ongoing efforts to take over Taiwan.
In his victory speech, Lai stated that he would maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. However, he also promised to defend the country against Chinese aggression.
“We are determined to protect Taiwan from the ongoing threats and intimidation from China,” he told his supporters, as reported by AFP.
Based on the vote count from all polling stations, Lai received 40.2 percent of the votes, while his competitor from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), Hou Yu-ih, garnered 33.5 percent.
The election was closely monitored by China and Taiwan’s military partner, the United States. Both countries are competing for influence in Taiwan.
