Correct Answer :   William Lai Ching-te

* Ruling-party candidate William Lai Ching-te has emerged victorious in Taiwan's presidential election, and his opponents have conceded after ballots were cast at thousands of polling stations in a tight three-way race.

* Lai secured an unprecedented third consecutive term for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), defeating his conservative rival, Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang (KMT), by over 900,000 votes.

* The result in Taiwan's presidential and parliamentary election will chart the trajectory of relations with China over the next four years. At stake is the peace and stability of the 110-mile-wide strip of water between the Chinese mainland and the self-governed island, which is claimed by China as its own. China had previously called the election a choice between peace and war.

* President Biden said Saturday that the United States does not support Taiwan's independence after being asked by reporters about his reaction to the elections as he was leaving the White House.

* "We do not support independence," Mr. Biden said.

* Lai is the vice president of the island's governing Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP.

* Lai, who also goes by the name William Lai, and incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen reject China's sovereignty claims over Taiwan, a former Japanese colony that split from the mainland amid civil war in 1949. They have, however, offered to speak with Beijing, which has repeatedly refused to hold talks and called them separatists. Beijing has strongly opposed Lai's election.

* "Every election in Taiwan is significant because of the potential for Beijing reacting in a way that could contribute to further instability in the region," Taipei-based political analyst Michael Cole told CBS News ahead of the election.

* U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai on his election win, and congratulated the "Taiwan people for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system and electoral process."

* "The United States is committed to maintaining cross-Strait peace and stability, and the peaceful resolution of differences, free from coercion and pressure. The partnership between the American people and the people on Taiwan, rooted in democratic values, continues to broaden and deepen across economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties," Blinken said.

* Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, congratulated Lai in a statement released Saturday morning. Johnson had met with Taiwan's ambassador to the U.S., Alexander Yui, and conveyed his support for security and democracy in the region.

* Johnson added that he would ask the chairs of relevant House Committees to lead a delegation to Taipei after Lai is inaugurated in May.

* Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took to X on Saturday to offer congratulations..

Congratulations to President-elect Lai Ching-te & the Taiwanese people on this historic victory which demonstrates the strength of their free & fair elections.

Taiwan's unwavering commitment to peace, freedom & the vibrancy of their democracy remains an inspiration to the world.

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 13, 2024