BEIJING, Jan  13, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - China said "reunification" with Taiwan 
was still "inevitable" after president-elect Lai Ching-te won Saturday's 
pivotal election on the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own.

The vote "will not impede the inevitable trend of China's reunification", 
Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua said in a statement 
carried by state news agency Xinhua.

The results of the vote, Chen said, showed that Taiwan's ruling Democratic 
Progressive Party (DPP) "cannot represent the mainstream public opinion on the 
island".
       
Lai delivered an unprecedented third consecutive term for the DPP after a 
raucous campaign in which he pitched himself as the defender of Taiwan's 
democratic way of life.
       
Chen said the vote "will not change the basic landscape and development 
trend of cross-Strait relations".
       
Beijing's stance on "realizing national reunification remains consistent, 
and our determination is as firm as rock," he said.
       
He said Beijing "firmly oppose(s) the separatist activities aimed at 
'Taiwan independence' as well as foreign interference".
       
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 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.