( dpa ) - China's state-run media in initial reports on the Taiwanese elections stressed the failure of the referendum on UN membership.
In reports which were objective about the presidential election outcome, the Chinese media paid more attention to the failed referendum and cited Taiwanese experts as saying that this clearly showed that Taiwanese were dissatisfied with outgoing president Chen Shui-bian.
Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan affairs office of the Council of Ministers in Beijing, commented that the referendum result "proves that Taiwan independence is not popular with Taiwan people.
"We hope Ma (Ying-jeou) and the mainland can make joint efforts towards cross-Strait peace," he added.