'Whatever changes take place...': China on Taiwan poll results as President-elect vows defence | 10 points
China which has repeatedly denounced him as a dangerous separatist. 1. The Chinese Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its claim to the breakaway territory as part of its own in its first official response to the presidential elections in neighbouring Taiwan.
CNN reported on Saturday that the ministry said any changes made to the island nation would not affect Taiwan's status as "part of China." The report quoted the spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying that no matter "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." 2. As tensions between Beijing and Taipei remain high, Xi has repeatedly affirmed China's stance that the island-nation is a part of mainland China and that it must be reunified, by force if necessary. 3.
Earlier, before the presidential elections in Taiwan, President Xi Jinping, in his year-end address, asserted that Taiwan will be reunified with China, Fox News reported. 4. While listing out his priorities after being elected Taiwan's new supreme leader, Lai Ching-te on Saturday said he will work to protect his country from continuing threats and intimidation from China, CNN report stated.
"I will act by our democratic and free constitutional order in a manner that is balanced and maintains the cross-strait status quo. At the same time, we are also determined to safeguard Taiwan from continuing threats and intimidation from China," the newly elected President was quoted as saying by CNN. 5.
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