TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the government is closely monitoring the developments in Taiwan and has always respected the “One China” Policy. The statement was made in response to the election in Taiwan, which was won by candidates backed by parties that oppose reunification with China.

“Indonesia is closely observing the developments in Taiwan. Indonesia consistently respects the One China Policy,” said a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, as quoted from Antara in Jakarta, on Sunday, January 14.

On Saturday, Jan. 13, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate William Lai Ching-te declared victory in the region's leadership election.

“We are telling the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will stand on the side of democracy,” Lai said in Taipei on Saturday night.

He pledged to maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait and use exchanges to replace deterrence and dialogue instead of confrontation while confidently pursuing exchanges and cooperation with China.

In response, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “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 one-China principle is the solid anchor for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”

China believed that the international community would 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 seeking national reunification.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden said that the US opposed Taiwan independence. “We do not support independence [of Taiwan],” Biden told reporters after the Taiwan election results were announced in Taipei.

ANTARA

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