around the worltd world, which has never recognized their government as legitimate. so just hours or days after the election on saturday for this country to sever diplomatic ties and then be welcomed into the diplomatic fold by beijing, this is yet another example from the taiwan these perspective of this isolation. in addition to the sanctions that chay na china slapped on this democracy, whether it be spy balloons or droneses or satellite launch that traveled over southern taiwan or military exercises that happen in the taiwan strait after nancy pelosi's visit, so they can't do military drills but they might do it close to the inauguration of the new president in may. >> steven, some of the reaction from china to this was predicted, but what did you read into the terms? did it feel more aggressive from
total vote. china had warned taiwan that a democratic progressive win could increase the risk of conflict. the voters shrugged off those warnings by making lai ching te their new president. >> translator: the taiwanese people have successfully re resisted efforts from external force toss influence this election as we believe we can choose our own president. >> cnn's will ripley joins us from taipei. taiwanese voters ignoring the chinese warnings. take us through the result and reaction. >> reporter: kim, china threw everything but the kitchen sink at taiwan in the run up to this election, talking about disinformation, misinformation, deepfake videos, doctored audio, spy balloons, unveiling images of their new aircraft carrier. we know all of the ships and fighter jets in the taiwan strait have been going on for a few years now and yet taiwanese voters chose the party, the precise party that beijing did not want to win.
the taiwanese elections? how will this play out, and what's the impact? >> well, it's a victory not only for the democratic progressive party, but really for democracy. taiwan is one of the world's most vibrant democracies. its success and the success of its elections really demolish the chinese communist party's claim to speak for all people of chinese heritage. it's also clear to me that the ccp's attempt to bull withly taiwan whether it's through spy balloons, sanctions, military incursions backfired. certainly when i was there, the people of taiwan saw that bullying, sow what had happened to hong kong, and i think it revealed the ccp's true intentions which are to destroy taiwan's democracy. and xi jinping keeps telling the us this plainly, and yet the biden administration and the business community simply don't want to hear it. so it's time for us in america, inspired by taiwan's bravery, to stand up to communist aggression. you know, when i was there and i met with the vice president, now the president-elect, he used a
industry, it is very important and that is why the outcome of this election is very important.- this election is very im-ortant. . , , this election is very im-ortant. , , ., this election is very im-ortant. . , , ., ., important. and because of all the interest _ important. and because of all the interest from _ important. and because of all the interest from the - important. and because of all the interest from the us, - the interest from the us, china, that means having a vested interest does not mean they sit on the sidelines and watch where the chips fall, they keep playing an active role, perhaps nudging a different outcome. how would you explain what china is doing on that front, trying to get the desired outcome? 50 on that front, trying to get the desired outcome? so many thins. the desired outcome? so many things- the _ the desired outcome? so many things. the military _ the desired outcome? so many things. the military exercises, | things. the military exercises, incursions _ things. the military exercises, incursions into the sky, a lot of activity— incursions into the sky, a lot of activity in the taiwan strait. _ of activity in the taiwan strait, balloons floating over taiwan, concerned that these were — taiwan, concerned that these were spy— taiwan, concerned that these were spy balloons but confirmed to be _ were spy balloons but confirmed to be where the surveillance balloons _ to be where the surveillance balloons but no mistake they were — balloons but no mistake they were let _ balloons but no mistake they were let loose over taiwan. we have _ were let loose over taiwan. we have also — were let loose over taiwan. we have also seen cultural pressures as well. a rock band, mayday, — pressures as well. a rock band, mayday, being accused of lip syncing — mayday, being accused of lip syncing in china, and that is against _ syncing in china, and that is against the law and later it
outcome that it wants? it's been doing _ outcome that it wants? it's been doing so _ outcome that it wants? it's been doing so many things. i mentioned the military exercises — we've been seeing repeated — exercises — we've been seeing repeated incursions in the skies _ repeated incursions in the skies. we've seen a lot of activity— skies. we've seen a lot of activity in _ skies. we've seen a lot of activity in the taiwan strait. of course, we've been seeing haiioons _ of course, we've been seeing balloons floating over taiwan. there — balloons floating over taiwan. there was concern at one point that— there was concern at one point that these _ there was concern at one point that these were spy balloons. those — that these were spy balloons. those have been confirmed to be weather — those have been confirmed to be weather surveillance balloons. but there's no mistake that those — but there's no mistake that those are being let loose over taiwan~ — those are being let loose over taiwan. now, we're also seeing some _ taiwan. now, we're also seeing some cultural pressures too. we have _ some cultural pressures too. we have to — some cultural pressures too. we have to look back to the taiwanese rock band mayday as one example. they were being accused — one example. they were being accused of lip—syncing in china _ accused of lip—syncing in china. that's against the law in china _ china. that's against the law in china it _ china. that's against the law in china. it later turns out that— in china. it later turns out that they— in china. it later turns out that they were coming under pressure _ that they were coming under pressure to try to reaffirm beijing's principles towards taiwan, _ beijing's principles towards taiwan, and they apparently had been _ taiwan, and they apparently had been resisting those pressures. so beijing has really been kind of trying — so beijing has really been kind of trying to influence this election on all fronts. that's something that people in taiwan are very. — something that people in taiwan are very, very conscious of. there's— are very, very conscious of. there's a _ are very, very conscious of. there's a lot of talk here about _ there's a lot of talk here about how beijing has been trying — about how beijing has been trying to sway this election in either— trying to sway this election in either direction.—
but actively having a role in nudging, perhaps, different outcomes, perhaps? how would you explain what china's doing on that front when it comes to trying to get the desired outcome that it wants? oh, it's been doing so many things. i mentioned the military exercises — we've been seeing repeated incursions in the skies. we've seen a lot of activity in the taiwan strait. of course, we've been seeing balloons floating over taiwan. there was concern at one point that these were spy balloons. those have been confirmed to be weather surveillance balloons. but there's no mistake that those are being let loose over taiwan. now, we're also seeing some cultural pressures too. we have to look back to the taiwanese rock band mayday as one example. they were being accused of lip—syncing in china — that's against the law in china. it later turns out that they were coming under pressure to try to reaffirm beijing's principles towards taiwan, and they apparently had been resisting those pressures. so beijing has really been kind of trying to influence this election on all fronts.
after the polls closed. this island democracy has a r reputation for being efficient when tallying election results. partially because there are under 24 million people living here, and nobody can vote in absentee ballots. everybody who cast their ballots, the millions of taiwanese had to do so in-person in their hometowns. a lot of people turned out. there were under 2,000 polling sites in taipei alone, and there were lines at a top of them throughout the day because of what is at stake in this election. china had told the taiwanese people, warning them in the run-up to the election that this was a choice between peace and war. prosperity and decline. implying that the democratic progressive party, this is openly loathed by beijing communist leaders, is the wrong choice in china's view to lead taiwan the next four years. they've been making the point with statements and actions, including in recent days, sending spy balloons over taiwan. unveiling imagery of their third most advanced aircraft carrier,
absentee ballot. everybody who cast their ballots, the millions who voted actually had to do so in person in their home towns, but a lot of people turned out. there were just under 2,000 polling sites here in dtaipei alone, and there were lines throughout the day because of what's at stake. china warned them in the run up to the election, this was a choice between peace and war, prosperity and decline, implying that the democratic progressive party which is openly loathed by beijing's communist leaders is the wrong choice in china's view to lead taiwan for the next four years. they have been making their point not only with bellicose statements but also with actions, including just in recent days sending spy balloons over taiwan, unveiling imagery of their third most advanced aircraft carrier, experts say they will play a vital role in any potential invasion of taiwan which china has never ruled out, they say that they will eventually
kuomintang seen as friendlier to china. >> translator: do not use hatred to create confrontation and division. >> reporter: taiwan's people's party or tpp candidate ko ming-je. >> our party would like to reach out to china and have them begin dialogue with us. >> reporter: intelligence agencies in taipei accuse beijing of election interference, stopping sanctions on taiwanese exports, sending spy balloons, showing off a new aircraft car, and this week launching a satellite over taiwan. triggering a rare emergency alert during this foreign ministry press conference. taiwan later apologized for mistranslating the chinese word for satellite to missile. >> they're trying to destroy taiwan's democracy whenever possible. >> reporter: disinformation, deep fake videos, doctored audio