China strongly criticizes US for congratulating Taiwan's new leader

China has condemned the United States for sending a "seriously wrong signal" to those advocating for Taiwan's independence. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated the president-elect of Taiwan, William Lai, following the election. Beijing regarded this message as a violation of the US commitment to maintain unofficial ties with Taiwan. Lai has vowed to protect Taiwan from China's aggressive behavior, but Beijing considers Taiwan as its own territory and disputes any government stating otherwise. Messages of congratulations for Taiwan's new leader poured in from around the world, including from Blinken, who stressed the partnership between Taipei and Washington rooted in democratic values. However, Beijing criticized Blinken's remarks, claiming that it lent legitimacy to a separatist group striving to make Taiwan an independent nation.