Taiwan elects first female president Tsai Ing-wen

When searching for “Tsai Ing-Wen” or “elections in Taiwan” in the Chinese messaging service a notification appeared stating that results of the query could not be shown due to current laws.

Tsai Ing-wen was elected as Taiwan’s president Saturday, becoming the first woman to win the office.

The KMT is at risk of losing its majority in the legislature for the first time in history.

“It is a political natural disaster”, said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, political science professor at Hong Kong Baptist University.

“I think the tough will get tougher and the soft will get softer”.

According to Taiwan’s Central Election Commission, with 98 percent of the results in, Tsai and running mate Chen Chien-jen had claimed 56.2 percent of the votes, with Chu at 30.9 percent and Soong at 12.8 percent.

China has threatened military action if Taiwan declares independence.

Although Taiwan is self-ruling after it split with China following a civil war in 1949, it has never declared independence and Beijing still sees it as part of its territory awaiting reunification.

‘I am Tsai Ing-wen, and I support marriage equality, ‘ she continued.

That message has also calmed nerves in the USA, which does not want to see tensions flare.

Shortly after her victory, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office warned it would oppose any move towards independence and that Beijing was determined to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

An unlikely political firestorm came on the eve of the election, sparked by a YouTube video from 16-year-old Taiwanese pop singer, Chou Tzuyu, of South Korean girl band Twice.

The flag-waving stoked online anger in China and accusations that she was a pro-independence advocate. “Only when we grow stronger will we be able to gain respect and protect our people and our democratic way of life”, Tsai said, referring to Taiwan by its official name, the Republic of China.

On Weibo, China’s answer to Twitter, the popularity of the phrase “use force to unify Taiwan” soared.

“Tsai has vowed to work to ensure that Taiwanese can be proud of their home”. China is also Taiwan’s top trading partner and Taiwan’s favourite investment destination.

The KMT has been in power for most of the past 70 years and has overseen improved relations with Beijing – Ms Tsai’s is only the second-ever victory for the DPP. She also added that Taiwan’s worldwide space must be respected.

Taiwan’s freewheeling democracy stands in sharp contrast to China’s one-party state, and a cast of colorful candidates are contesting seats – they include an ex-convict, an alleged spy and the front man of Asia’s biggest death metal band.

“Even at the worldwide level, if the DPP oversteps its boundaries, China will do its utmost to counterattack the DPP, so there’s no need to hold back unlike dealing with the KMT, and when dealing with cross-strait issues, China can afford to be more relaxed”.

“Beijing may not take a harsh approach within a short period”, said analyst Tsai.