In an article published today, Xi Jinping also called for “strengthening patriotic forces and reunification” in Taiwan, whose sovereignty is claimed by Beijing, reported the official Xinhua news agency.
Xi stressed the need to direct the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) Central Committee to “mobilize support” and “develop and improve China’s political system.”
The United Front seeks to bring together the social forces that support the CCP and its leadership, both in China and abroad, although some Western think tanks accuse it of influencing foreign societies and intimidating Chinese people living abroad.
The Chinese leader called for “opposing separatist acts” that support “Taiwan independence” and “promoting the complete reunification of the motherland”. Xi also stressed the importance of “promoting the sense of community of the Chinese nation among different ethnic groups”.
William Lai, until now Vice President of Taiwan and considered an “agitator” by Beijing, won Saturday’s elections with 40.05 percent of the vote, defeating opposition Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Hou Yu-ih (33.49 percent of the vote) and Taiwan People’s Party (PPT) candidate Ko Wen-Je (26.46 percent).
Taiwan’s elected leader stated that these elections demonstrated to the international community that, between “democracy and authoritarianism”, the Taiwanese chose to be “on the side of democracy”.
*With Lusa
