The election on Saturday of Taiwan’s vice president and candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Lai Ching-te, to be the island’s next leader highlights Taiwanese voters’ support for political continuity, but may add fresh uncertainty into already frosty relations with China.

Beijing considers the self-governed island a part of China, and hopes to “reunify” it with the mainland eventually.

Lai, also known as William Lai, previously called himself a “practical worker for Taiwan independence,” but had moderated his messaging on the campaign trail and pledged support for the status quo. Beijing, however, painted the election in stark terms, calling him a “separatist” and “troublemaker.” Lai’s vice president-elect, Hsiao Bi-khim, is on Beijing’s sanctions list.