'Taiwan election can't change there's only one China'
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the result of the leadership election in the Taiwan region cannot change the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China. The outcome of the election won't change the prevailing consensus of the international community on adhering to the one-China principle, Wang said during a press conference in Cairo following his meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Wang added that any country that violates the one-China principle, interferes in China's internal affairs and infringes on China's sovereignty will be jointly opposed by all the Chinese people and the international community as a whole. Seeking Taiwan's independence is "a dead-end road" that seriously threatens the well-being of Taiwan compatriots, Xinhua quoted the foreign minister as saying. William Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party came out on top in Saturday's election, defeating Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang and Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People's Party. Einar Tangen, a senior fellow at the Taihe Institute, told RTHK that "Beijing is playing the long game" when it comes to Taiwan. "Nothing's actually changed... They have issued a statement saying that fundamentally nothing has changed, but they want to be very clear that if Lai tries to embark on, say, 'I want to have a referendum on independence or just make unilateral statements,' that would mean action by Beijing," he said. (Additional reporting by Xinhua)