Chinese President Xi Jinping called for renewed efforts to advance “reunification” with Taiwan in a congratulatory message to the newly elected leader of the island’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), whose election has drawn scrutiny amid allegations of Beijing’s interference.

Former lawmaker Cheng Li-wun, who won Saturday’s leadership race and is set to take charge of the KMT on November 1, assumes office amid heightened cross-strait tensions. Beijing continues to consider Taiwan part of its territory, while Taipei rejects China’s sovereignty claims.

In his message, Xi, in his capacity as head of the Communist Party of China, said the KMT and the Communist Party should “consolidate their common political foundation” and “unite the vast majority of people in Taiwan to deepen

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