(PartiallyPolitics.com) – The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won its third term in Taiwan prompting them to receive congratulatory messages from many countries. Still, President Biden has previously noted that the United States was not going to endorse the island’s independence.
Following Saturday’s election Biden was asked by reporters if he had any comments on the victory of DPP candidate William Lai over the Kuomintang (KMT) party. However, in response, Biden argued that the United States did not support independence.
Lai, who also uses his Chinese name Ching-te, declared his victory following a tightly contested election where he managed to beat the New Taipei City mayor KMT candidate Hou Yu-ih. Beijing has not yet declared whether they prefer either of the candidates, but they have previously referred to Lai as “dangerous.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken took to X, formerly known as Twitter to congratulate Lai and the Taiwan people for having taken part in a free and fair election and having shown the strength of Taiwan’s democratic system.
Members of the House, including Ami Bera, R-Calif., Mike McCaul, R-Texas, Young Kim, R-Calif., and Gregory Meeks, R-N.Y., have all issued congratulations to Lai and have praised Taiwan. In a statement, the House members had also blasted Beijing for their attempt to influence the election through military pressure and disinformation.
British Foreign Minister David Cameron similarly congratulated Lai for his success in the election.
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