China says 'reunification' with Taiwan remains 'inevitable' after vote

China emphasized that the "inevitable" reunification with Taiwan persisted following the victory of president-elect Lai Ching-te in Saturday's crucial election on the self-governed island, which Beijing asserts as its own. Despite being labeled by China as a peace-threatening figure, Lai secured an unprecedented third consecutive term for Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), positioning himself as the guardian of the island's democratic values. The election drew significant attention from both Beijing and Washington, Taiwan's primary military ally, as the two nations vie for influence in this strategically crucial region.