So as Taiwan’s chief representative here in Australia, it’s part of my role to help keep you up to date.

In a competitive three-way election, Dr Lai Ching-te (William Lai) from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, who just won the election last Saturday, will form a new government in coming months and is expected to continue the policies of incumbent Tsai Ing-wen’s administration.

The people of Taiwan have held democratic elections since the 1990s. Although we are not quite as practised as Australia, ours have almost always taken place, and done so in the face of military coercion and interference by China.

In the past this has taken the form of military exercises, rhetorical threat, economic coercion and other tactics such as disinformation and the spread of conspiracies.

So, it’s not surprising the Chinese ambassador to Australia stated in his opinion article published online by this newspaper on Saturday, and timed just before Taiwan’s election, that if Australia has any “miscalculations” in Canberra’s ties with the new Taiwanese government, this will see the Australian people “pushed over the edge of an abyss”.

He also stated, “Taiwan belongs to China” and this is “an inalienable part of the Chinese territory since ancient times”.

In fact, democratic Taiwan is widely commended by the international community and has never been part of the People’s Republic of China since its establishment in 1949.

Taiwan maintains 112 representative missions in more than 70 countries, enjoys substantive ties with nations around the world, and plays an indispensable role in global supply chains and resisting authoritarian expansionism.

Our government has always honoured the political mandate bestowed by the Taiwanese people through democratic elections, and respected the rule of law and human rights.

We are determined to staunchly defend Taiwan’s security and national sovereignty, as well as freedom and democratic ways of life.

It is also our unwavering commitment to work with like-minded partners to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region. As events transpire as a result of Taiwan’s election, I urge Australians to open their eyes to the many ­values and ways of life we share, which can bring us closer together despite the geographical distance between Taiwan and Australia.

Taiwan is a vibrant democracy supported by the rule of law.

We pride ourselves on an entrepreneurial culture that encourages people to have a go.

And we are a country willing to punch above its weight internationally by playing our part on the world stage.

Australia is close in trade and economic terms, too: Taiwan is Australia’s fifth-largest trading partner, with two-way trade worth $32.6bn.

Taiwan and Australia are both democracies in the Indo-­Pacific region: an increasingly rare thing.

Our region is home to about four billion of the world’s population and generates almost 60 per cent of global GDP, but it is a region that is not dominated by democracies.

According to the Lowy Institute report, only 54 per cent of the regional population live under democracy.

So, Australia and Taiwan are more than just partners, we are members of the same community of nations in this vital global region.

We are leaders in the international community, and role models for those striving to have their governments listen to their voices.

We ask all Australians for their support and for their voices as we work together to preserve the status quo of peace and stability across the 180km of water that separates China and Taiwan.

As I watch my homeland peacefully transition to a new government, I hope Australia will join with our other international friends and partners and applaud another democracy in action and support us as we engage on the world stage.