China Disappointed Singapore Gives Congratulations To Lai Ching-te Election Winner

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning when delivering a statement to the media in Beijing, China on Monday (15/1/2023). (ANTARA/Desca Lidya Natalia)

JAKARTA - The Chinese government expressed its disappointment with Singapore for issuing an official statement congratulating the winner of the Taiwanese election, William Lai Ching-te.

"The Chinese government will immediately submit diplomatic protests to Singapore. Even though Singaporean leaders have stated on several occasions that the Taiwan issue is a'red line' for China," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning when delivering a statement to the media in Beijing, China.

In Singaporean media coverage on Sunday (14/1), a spokesman for the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said "Singapore welcomes the success of the election and congratulates William Lai and his party on their victory. Singapore has a close and long-standing friendship with Taiwan and the Taiwanese people, and will continue to develop this relationship based on our 'One China' policy."

"China hopes Singapore strictly adheres to the principle of 'one China' and upholds friendly relations between China and Singapore through concrete actions," added Mao Ning.

Mao Ning reiterated that both sides of the Taiwan Strait have the same owner, namely China.

"Taiwan is part of China's territory. The Cairo declaration agreed by China, the United States and Britain 80 years ago clearly determined that all areas taken by Japan from China, such as Taiwan, must be returned to China," said Mao Ning.

Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation which was mutually agreed upon by China, the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union in 1945, said Mao Ning, setting the conditions for the Cairo Declaration to be implemented.

"Then Japan accepted the Potsdam Agreement and announced its unconditional surrender. This legally binding international instrument provides a historical and legal basis for the fact that Taiwan is an indisputable part of China's territory," added Mao Ning.

Although the two sides in the Taiwan Strait, namely mainland China and Taiwan, have not yet reunited, Mao Ning said that China's sovereignty and territory has never been cut off and the legal status and the fact that Taiwan is part of China's territory has never changed.

"This is the true status quo of the Taiwan issue. China will achieve national reunification and Taiwan will definitely return to the arms of its homeland," said Mao Ning.

Taiwan just finished holding elections on Saturday (13/1) which was won by William Lai Ching-te from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). He is described as a defender of Taiwan democracy, but Beijing calls him "dangerous" and becomes one of the " separatist groups" so that it can trigger cross-state conflict.

William Lai Ching-te received more than 5.58 million votes from about 14 million ballots, Hou Yu-ih, bagging 4.66 million votes and Ko Wen-je from the Taiwanese People's Party (TPP) received 3.68 million votes.

Currently Lai is still the deputy leader of Tsai Ing-wen and this will be the third DPP term in a row.

Under the leadership of Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) since 2016, Taiwan has taken a strong stance against Beijing and the principle of "One China" which says Taiwan is territory under Beijing's rule.