Taiwan issue is China’s internal affair — Chinese Foreign Ministry

The Taiwan issue is an internal matter of China irrespective of changes in the island and Taiwan is part of China, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on the ministry’s website, Report informs via TASS.

"The Taiwan question is China’s internal affair. Whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change," the spokesperson said.

"The Chinese government’s position of upholding the one-China principle and opposing ‘Taiwan independence’ separatism, ‘two Chinas’ and ‘one China, one Taiwan’ will not change; and the international community’s prevailing consensus on upholding the one-China principle and long-standing and overwhelming adherence to this principle will not change," the foreign ministry noted.

"The one-China principle is the solid anchor for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," the ministry stressed. "We believe that the international community will continue to adhere to the one-China principle, and understand and support the Chinese people’s just cause of opposing ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities and striving to achieve national reunification." It added.

Lai Ching-te, a candidate from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, won the island’s presidential election. According to the Taiwanese Central Election Commission, he collected 40.05% of the votes, while his closest rival Hou You-yi, from the opposition Kuomintang party, gathered 33.49%.

Taiwan has been governed by its local administration since 1949 when the Kuomintang’s remaining forces headed by Chiang Kai-shek were defeated in the Chinese Civil War and took refuge on the island. China regards the island as one of its provinces.