(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
President Joe Biden gave a blunt message to the people of Taiwan after they elected a new president on Saturday.
Before departing for Camp David, Biden spoke with reporters on the White House south lawn where he reacted to Taiwan voters electing Vice President Lai Ching-te. He confirmed to the cameras that the United States does not support independence for the island nation.
“We do not support independence,” Biden reiterated on Saturday morning.
Ching-te faced strong opposition from China after he campaigned on delivering independence for Taiwan. Voters elected Ching-te despite the opposition from China, keeping the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in power for it’s third consecutive term.
China previously warned voters that the election could be crucial, claiming it was a choice between war and peace. Despite being self-governed for decades, China has claimed sovereignty over the island and the sea surrounding the nation.
The White House did issue a statement hours before the election concluded that “it would be unacceptable” for “any” country to try to interfere in the
Regardless, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement praising Ching-te on his victory, adding that the U.S. “is committed to maintaining cross-strait peace and stability, and the peaceful resolution of differences, free from coercion and pressure” and looks forward to maintaining the “longstanding unofficial relationship, consistent with the U.S. one China policy.