Lai, branded by China as a threat to peace, won an unprecedented third consecutive term for Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after he pitched himself as the defender of the island's democratic way of life.
In a statement issued after Lai emerged as the winner, Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua said in a statement that the vote "will not impede the inevitable trend of China's reunification", according to state news agency Xinhua.
The results of the vote, Chen said, showed that the DPP "cannot represent the mainstream public opinion on the island".
Chen also said the vote "will not change the basic landscape and development trend of cross-Strait relations".
Beijing's stance on "realising national reunification remains consistent, and our determination is as firm as rock", he said, adding that "Taiwan is China's Taiwan".
He said Beijing "firmly oppose(s) the separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence' as well as foreign interference".
The election was watched closely by both Beijing and Washington, Taiwan's main military partner, as the two powers tussle for influence in the strategically vital region.
In a New Year's address, Chinese President Xi Jinping had said the "unification" of Taiwan with China was "inevitable".
And in the run-up to the vote, Beijing warned that Lai was a "severe danger" who would threaten peace by following the "evil path" of independence.
China's hopes for unification with Taiwan endure on nearby Pingtan
Pingtan, China (AFP) Jan 13, 2024 -
On a windy seafront promenade in south China's Pingtan, people basked in the bright sunlight and looked east through binoculars towards Taiwan, the island their country's leadership have vowed to seize one day.
Millions of Taiwanese people headed to the polls Saturday to vote for a new leader of the democratic island, in an election marked by the looming threat from an increasingly bellicose China.
But many are shrugging off warnings from Beijing -- voting instead with more local issues in mind like housing and the economy.
Yet on Pingtan, the closest point in China to Taiwan's main island, some locals said they were convinced that the self-ruled territory would one day be brought into the fold.
"Hong Kong has returned, Macau has returned, it's just Taiwan," Chen Suqing, a 75-year-old retired businessman told AFP.
His views echo those of the ruling Communist Party: that Taiwan is part of China and must be returned if the country is to reverse a "century of humiliation" that saw it dismembered by foreign powers.
Previous Chinese leaders had pledged to reunify the country, he said -- and time was running out.
"We must liberate Taiwan in this generation," he said.
"If Taiwan is not unified and becomes independent, we will fight."
- 'Peaceful reunification is best' -
But war seems a long way away in Pingtan, a popular tourist destination in the summer, while strong seasonal winds and chilly temperatures in the winter make it a quiet place in January.
Two locals said they hadn't heard of any election happening on Saturday -- reflective of the broad lack of coverage the election has garnered from the mainland's state-controlled media.
Others had strong views.
"Our hope is that both sides of the strait will develop peacefully," said Gao, a retired Communist Party cadre who only gave his surname.
"Peaceful reunification is best. It has been 75 years since (China's) liberation, and everyone is looking forward to peaceful reunification of the two sides," he said.
Chen agreed, saying he "hoped" the candidate for the opposition, Beijing-leaning Kuomintang party -- Hou Yu-ih -- would defeat ruling Democratic Progressive Party candidate and front-runner Lai Ching-te. Beijing has denounced Lai as a dangerous separatist.
"The Kuomintang also isn't that great, but I hope Hou Yu-ih can win," the man said.
In town, restaurants specialising in fresh seafood dishes -- a major draw for tourists from other parts of China -- sat mostly empty during lunchtime as some people went about their errands.
On the beach, others posed for pictures with a bevvy of white doves as kitesurfers coasted across the cyan-coloured bay and families strolled with children on the white sands.
One group gazed out east into the sea, sporting red plastic bags on their shoes.
There were some hints of the cross-strait tensions, however -- AFP journalists early Saturday morning saw a Chinese military jet flying overhead.
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