Several countries, including Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, the US, the UK and EU countries, have congratulated the nation on its democratic achievement after the presidential and legislative elections on Saturday.
Twelve diplomatic allies of Taiwan — Palau, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Nauru, Haiti, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Guatemala, Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Paraguay, Saint Lucia and Eswatini — congratulated the nation following the completion of the elections, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday.
Belizean Prime Minister John Briceno, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, Saint Kitts and Nevis Governor-General Marcella Liburd and Prime Minister Terrance Drew, Saint Lucian Prime Minister Philip Pierre and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves contacted Taiwan’s local representatives to convey congratulatory messages to president-elect William Lai (賴清德) and vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), it said.
The Republic of China flag waves on the tower of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei yesterday.
Photo: Yasuyoshi Chiba, AFP
Paraguayan President Santiago Pena congratulated Lai via video call, while Guatemalan Minister of Foreign Affairs Mario Bucaro yesterday offered congratulations to Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), who is in Guatemala to attend the inauguration ceremony of Guatemalan president-elect Bernardo Arevalo, it said.
Guatemalan vice President-elect Karin Herrera met with the delegation led by Wu on Saturday to discuss “possibilities of cooperation” between the two sides, Reuters reported.
The US, Japan, the UK and the European External Action Service (EEAS) all issued statements on Saturday to congratulate Lai and his running mate on their victory, it said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai on his win and the Taiwanese public “for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system and electoral process,” while reaffirming the US’ commitment to cross-strait peace and stability.
The EEAS congratulated “all the voters who participated in this democratic exercise” while voicing concerns over growing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and opposition to “any unilateral attempt to change the status quo.”
British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron said the elections “are testament to Taiwan’s vibrant democracy.”
Cameron added that he hoped Taiwan and China “will renew efforts to resolve differences peacefully through constructive dialogue.”
Czech President Petr Pavel offered his congratulations on the successful completion of the democratic elections during an interview with Czech news agency CTK on Saturday, MOFA said.
Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Vlastimil Valek wrote on X that it was gratifying to see Taiwan’s democracy again triumph over the threat from China.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement yesterday congratulated Taiwan’s voters and elected officials, adding it hoped dialogue between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait would resume.
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade yesterday congratulated Lai and said the “smooth conduct of the elections is a testament to the maturity and strength of Taiwan’s democracy” while the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on X that the country looks forward to “further enhancing NZ and Taiwan’s vibrant trade, economic and cultural links.”
South Korea hopes for peace and stability maintained across the Taiwan Strait and deeper “practical cooperation with Taiwan,” Yonhap news agency yesterday cited a South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs official as saying.
The Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs congratulated Lai in a statement, adding that Singapore has a longstanding and close friendship with Taiwan and has “consistently supported the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.”
Lawmakers in more than 30 countries, including the US, Japan and European countries, and the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China also extended their congratulations, MOFA said.
US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said on X: “The United States is eager to work with President-elect Lai and build on the strong partnership we’ve enjoyed with President Tsai.”
European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group chairman Michael Gahler along with vice chairmen Andrey Kovatchev and Dominique Riquet published a statement praising the “transparency and fairness” of the elections as setting “a global standard,” adding the European Parliament “maintains unwavering support” for the nation, and cross-strait peace and stability.
Meanwhile, the congratulatory messages from countries that share warm ties with Taiwan drew swift responses from Chinese embassies, which condemned what they called “incorrect actions” that send “a gravely wrong signal to the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.”
Additional reporting by Reuters
Source: Taipei Times - 2024/01/15
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