The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reiterated Vietnam’s consistent stance to uphold the ‘One China’ policy and develop no state-level relations with Taiwan after the island’s leadership election results were announced on the weekend.

The ministry’s spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang made the reaffirmation on Sunday in reply to reporters’ questions about Vietnam’s viewpoint after Taiwan’s election results, according to which Lai Ching-te, a representative of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won the island’s leadership on Saturday.

Emphasizing its commitment to the 'One China' policy, Vietnam is steadfastly maintaining and fostering people-to-people and non-governmental relations with Taiwan in various sectors such as economics, trade, investment, science and technology, culture, and education, Hang stressed.

It is essential to note that Vietnam has no intention of establishing state-level ties with the island, as highlighted by official statements.

“Vietnam respects the principle of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs and believes that peace, stability, and cooperation in the Taiwan Strait is crucial for both the region and the global community,” the spokesperson stated.

In a statement quoted by China’s Xinhua News Agency, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, declared on January 13 that the election result in Taiwan “will not impede the inevitable trend of China’s reunification.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday asserted that “the result of the leadership election in the Taiwan region cannot change the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China.”

Stressing that Taiwan’s independence has never been and will never be possible, Wang warned that anyone attempting to advocate for Taiwan's separation from Chinese territory will certainly be "severely punished" by history and the law.

The minister expressed his belief that the international community, based on the one-China principle, “will continue to support the just cause of the Chinese people in striving for national reunification and opposing the separatist activities of seeking Taiwan's independence.” 

In the election last weekend, Lai, 64, a Harvard University graduate with a master’s degree in public health, beat his rivals Hou You-yi of the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang or KMT) and Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). 

He was once a lawmaker and the mayor of Tainan City on the southwest coast of Taiwan. 

Before winning the election, Lai served as deputy to leader Tsai Ing-wen, whom he has succeeded.

In a recent statement, the new Taiwanese leader vowed to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait area and strengthen the island’s defense capability.

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