![\"\"](\"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/24\/01\/70x70\/skynews-lai-ching-te-taiwan_6420380.jpg?20240113160456\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
China criticises UK and US for congratulating winner of Taiwan election | World News<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
China has criticised the UK, US and other governments for congratulating the winner of Taiwan’s presidential election. <\/p>\n
Beijing accused several nations of “interfering in China’s internal affairs” after world leaders sent messages to president-elect Lai Ching-te following his victory on Saturday<\/strong>.<\/p>\n China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory and considers it a breakaway province, has accused Mr Lai and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of being dangerous separatists.<\/p>\n The DPP says it favours the status quo of the island being self-governed but has not publicly called for independence.<\/p>\n The party’s win has been seen as a setback for Beijing and tensions heightened further on Sunday as it accused US secretary of state Antony Blinken<\/strong> of “sending a gravely wrong signal” after he sent his best wishes to the winner.<\/p>\n It came after Mr Blinken said: “We congratulate Dr Lai Ching-te on his victory in Taiwan’s presidential election. We also congratulate the Taiwan<\/strong> people for participating in free and fair elections and demonstrating the strength of their democratic system.”<\/p>\n But China<\/strong>‘s foreign ministry said it “strongly deplored and firmly opposed” the comments – and added that “serious representations to the US side” had been made.<\/p>\n “We urge the US to stop interactions of an official nature with Taiwan and stop sending any wrong signal to the separatist forces for ‘Taiwan independence’,” a spokesperson added.<\/p>\n Tensions have been further ramped up by a visit to Taipei by former US national security adviser Stephen Hadley and former deputy secretary of state James Steinberg on Sunday.<\/p>\n The pair are due to hold a string of meetings with political leaders, but are said to be doing so in a “private capacity”.<\/p>\n The US does not officially recognise Taiwan as an independent state and supports the status quo, although US President Joe Biden has promised to defend it from a possible attack by China.<\/p>\n It comes after Beijing also condemned the “incorrect actions” of Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron<\/strong> after he also congratulated Mr Lai – and described the elections as a “testament to Taiwan’s vibrant democracy.”<\/p>\n A Chinese embassy statement said on Saturday: “We urge the United Kingdom to acknowledge the position that Taiwan is a province of China, cautiously handle Taiwan-related matters in accordance with the one-China principle, [and] stop any remarks that interfere in China’s internal affairs.”<\/p>\n Read more from Sky News: The Chinese government further criticised a similar message from the Japanese government, and also hit out at France – even though officials in Paris did not name Lai or his party, and instead congratulated “all voters and candidates”.<\/p>\n On the eve of the election Chinese diplomats also warned Western nations of the unspecified dangers of supporting “Taiwan independence forces”.<\/p>\n
Lai Ching-te’s victory the most provoking outcome to China<\/strong>
Iceland volcano: Homes go up in flames<\/strong>
Denmark’s new king proclaimed <\/strong><\/p>\n