China rebukes Singapore for congratulating new Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te

In a public display of disapproval, Beijing has reiterated its “one-China” stance to Singapore after the city-state congratulated Vice President Lai Ching-te and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party on their election victory. According to a Bloomberg report, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said that “China has immediately made solemn démarches to Singapore," akin to a diplomatic reprimand.

Earlier, the Chinese embassy in Japan had “resolutely opposed” Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa’s statement congratulating Taiwan’s new president-elect Ching-te.

In a statement published on the Japanese foreign ministry’s website on Saturday, after the results of the Taiwan presidential election were announced, Kamikawa congratulated Lai on his victory, calling the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing “an extremely crucial partner and an important friend.” In response, the Chinese embassy in Japan, without mentioning Lai or acknowledging his victory, described Kamikawa’s comments as “a serious interference in China’s internal affairs”, according to a statement published on Sunday on the embassy’s official WeChat account. “We express strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this, and have lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side,” the embassy said. Japan, like most countries, does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a precondition for establishing diplomatic ties with China. Ching-te from the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won Taiwan’s presidential election, despite warnings from China – which claims Taiwan as part of its territory – not to vote for him. The DPP does not represent the mainstream public opinion on the island, Beijing said after Lai was named the winner of Saturday’s vote, adding that the vote “will not impede the inevitable trend of China’s reunification”. Lai, the current vice president, was in a three-way race with Hou Yu-ih from the conservative Kuomintang (KMT) and former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je from the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), which was only founded in 2019.

With votes from all polling stations counted on Saturday, the Central Election Commission said Lai won 40.1 percent, ahead of Hou’s 33.5 percent.

Hou conceded defeat and congratulated Lai on his victory. He also apologised to KMT supporters for not being able to remove the DPP. Ko also conceded defeat. With inputs from agencies