Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party has won its third consecutive presidential victory. Taiwan’s vice president, Lai Ching-te, won Saturday’s election in a vote closely watched in Beijing and Washington. China vocally opposed his candidacy and has described the president-elect as a “dangerous separatist.” Lai Ching-te spoke on Saturday.

President-elect Lai Ching-te: “We hope that both sides of the Taiwan Strait can return to healthy and orderly exchanges in the future. Indeed, as you have mentioned, President Tsai Ing-wen has continuously extended goodwill over these eight years. Unfortunately, China has not provided an appropriate response. … The Taiwanese people have taken action to successfully resist the intervention of external forces. This is because we believe in electing our own president.”

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi responded to the vote in Taiwan by issuing a harsh warning to anyone in Taiwan who seeks independence.

Wang Yi: “Taiwan has never been a country, not in the past and certainly not in the future. Taiwanese independence has never been possible. It has not been possible in the past, and it will never be possible in the future. Anyone on the island of Taiwan who wants to pursue Taiwanese independence or split China’s territory will be severely punished by history and law.”