China warns Taiwan against independence

Her quiet pragmatism struck a chord with voters, winning the presidency and helping secure a legislative majority for her Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, which espouses independence from the mainland.

Tsai, who defeated Kuomintang candidate Eric Chu and People First Party chairman James Soong in a three-way race, has become the island’s first female leader.

The New Power Party, led by young Taiwanese who opposed Taiwan’s policy toward China and unlawfully occupied the parliament in 2014, also won seats.

Alexander Huang, strategic studies professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan, says China will monitor the president-elect until she takes office in May. ’68, while he was president of Taiwan from 1988-2000.

In her address to media she pledged to “work towards maintaining peace and stability” in relations with China, but emphasised it must reflect public will. After all, it’s 2016.

The Global Times, an influential tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily newspaper, said in an editorial that if Tsai’s administration sought to “cross the red line” like Chen, Taiwan would “meet a dead end”.

Ing-wen has meanwhile promised to be “steadfast in protecting this nation’s sovereignty” and has repeatedly refused to accept that Taiwan and China are one nation.

The result was not welcomed in Beijing, which believes the DPP will push for independence or a separate identity, something Beijing will never tolerate as it considers Taiwan part of China.

Reflecting unease over a slowdown in Taiwan’s once-mighty economy undeclared voter Hsieh Lee-fung said providing opportunities to the next generation was the most important issue. Nationalists’ hand of control has also been threatened for the first time in parliamentary elections with a groundbreaking record of 556 candidates fighting for the available 113 seats.

Singapore supports the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.

“Democracy is not just an election”, Tsai said at her last campaign rally on Friday in drizzling rain. One small group held up a banner saying: “Taiwan is not part of China”.

China has largely declined to comment on the polls, although its chief official for Taiwan affairs this month warned of potential major challenges in the relationship in the year ahead.

Ms Tsai has often been criticised for being unmarried and has had to bat away questions about her sexuality.

Jubilant supporters expressed their faith in Tsai as she later addressed the crowds, promising to be a strong leader.

Tsai will face daunting tasks not only in placating China, which claims Taiwan as its sovereign territory, but battling declining morale in the military ranks and addressing unfulfilled procurement requests for new submarines and fighter aircraft.