THE Lai Ching-te, who won today Saturday the presidential election in Taiwan, he saluted in front of supporters of “a new chapter in democracy” for the island, despite threats from Beijing that claims its sovereignty. Lai, 64, had been characterized “serious danger” from Beijing because its party proclaims the island to be de facto independent. China, which considers Taiwan one of its provinces, had called on voters to do “the right choice”, with its military vowing to “crush” any mood for “independence”.

“I want to thank the people of Taiwan for writing a new chapter in our democracy”, he stated in his speech after the victory, as “we are telling the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will be on the side of democracy”.

Lai left spikes for Beijing, saying that the population “successfully resisted attempts by outside forces to influence these elections.” China had denounced him as a “serious danger” because of his pro-Taiwan independence positions.

“Thanks to our action, the people of Taiwan have successfully resisted the attempts of outside forces to influence this election,” he said to his followers, stressing that “we are convinced that only the Taiwanese people have the right to choose their president.”

Lai still promised to “protect Taiwan from China’s threats and intimidation.”

“We are determined to protect Taiwan from China’s constant threats and intimidation,” he said while promising to “continue exchanges and cooperation with China,” reiterating his desire for talks “based on dignity and equality ».

Taiwan’s outgoing Vice President Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won today’s election 40.2% of the votes, according to official near-final results, with votes counted from 98% of polling stations.

Lai’s main rival, the 66-year-old Hu Yu-yi, candidate of the Kuomintang (KMT), which proposes a rapprochement with Beijing, received 33.4% of the vote, according to the Central Electoral Commission count.

Early in the evening he acknowledged his defeat in front of his supporters: “I respect the final decision of the Taiwanese people” and “I congratulate Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-him (his co-candidate) for their election, hoping they will not disappoint the expectations of the Taiwanese people.”

The third candidate, the 64-year-old Mr. Wen-je of the small Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), comes third with 26.4%. He also admitted his defeat.

Taiwanese are also voting to reshuffle the 113-seat parliament, where the DPP may lose its majority.

Polling stations closed at 16:00 (local time, 10:00 Greek time) on this island of 23 million people located 180 kilometers off the Chinese coast and hailed as a model of democracy in Asia.