Taiwanese voters on Saturday elected Democratic Progressive Party candidate William Lai, overcoming opposition and pressure from China, according to multiple reports.

Selection of Mr. Lai from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called 'Outspoken separatists' could increase Chinese Communist Party pressure on Taiwan in August, Axios report. China claims Taiwan as its territory, and the Taiwan Secretariat warned voters on Thursday that Lai “will spark cross-strait confrontation and conflict.” according to In the Financial Times.

Lai said on Saturday that the prime minister has “an important responsibility to maintain peace and capability in the Taiwan Strait,” but was “determined to protect Taiwan from continued threats and intimidation from China,” according to Axios. expressed.

“In this first and most anticipated election in the year of global elections in 2024, Taiwan achieved its first victory for democracy,” Lai said in a speech after his victory. according to to the Wall Street Journal.

Countries with more than half of the world's population are scheduled to hold elections in 2024, including Russia, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. according to to Reuters. (Related: Exclusive: Chinese Communist Party-affiliated company plans to build large-scale facility near sensitive US military facility)

BREAKING NEWS: William Lai has won Taiwan's election.

The winners of this election are the people of Taiwan, who have shown remarkable courage in building democracy and charting their own course.

— Jamie Metzl (@JamieMetzl) January 13, 2024

According to WSJ, Lai's victory will give the party a third consecutive term, as President Tsai Ing-wen is resigning after reaching her two-term limit.

According to the WSJ, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson said Friday that the Chinese military will “take all necessary measures to decisively crush all forms of separatist plans for 'Taiwan independence.'”

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