Pro-Independence Candidate Claims Victory in Taiwan Presidential Election

The overwhelming victory for the leader of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party looks set to usher in a new round of uncertainty with the self-ruled island’s giant neighbour China, which still claims Taiwan as its territory to be taken by force if necessary.

And while she has stressed throughout her campaign that she had no intention of antagonising China, she called for freedom of navigation in the disputed South China Sea and for a peaceful resolution of the dispute.

President Ma Ying-jeou also defended her.

The United States has expressed concerns about the danger of worsening China-Taiwan ties, at a time when China’s navy is increasingly flexing its muscles in the South China and East China Seas and expanding territorial claims.

She had a commanding lead in the vote count when Eric Chu of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) admitted defeat.

Addressing tens of thousands of euphoric supporters in central Taipei, a composed if noticeably hoarse Ms Tsai delivered a victory speech with strong emphasis on Taiwan’s democratic values while promising a “consistent, predictable and stable” approach to cross-strait relations with Beijing. Her management company also put out a statement clarifying that Chou “has never made any remarks in support of Taiwan independence and online rumours that she supports Taiwan independence are groundless”.

The crowd showed similar responses to news of the DPP’s results in legislative races, whenever the party won a traditionally KMT platform, or when a KMT heavyweight – such as former Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), who ran in Keelung on a KMT ticket – conceded defeat, cries of joy would burst from the crowd.

The relationship between Taiwan and mainland China is complicated and Tsai’s election could cause tensions between the two. “We have been too successful [historically] in educating our own people that China are the bad guys”, KMT vice chairman Jason Hu tells TIME.

The DPP win means the island is moving towards a political system in which voters prefer to transfer power from one party to another, ending decades of mostly KMT rule.

“We share with the Taiwan people a profound interest in the continuation of cross-Strait peace and stability”, it said.

Tsai supporters appeared confident that ties with China would weather a change in government.

The DPP has never recognized the consensus.

Tsai said she work to recruit talented people to her cabinet, increase the competitiveness of Taiwan’s export-oriented economy and safeguard the food supply following a series of scandals.

This anti-China sentiment gives energy to the New Power Party (whose major leaders are mostly the same as those of the Sunflower Movement that took place in 2014), which has miraculously become established as the third biggest political party in Taiwan. “If mainland China democratizes someday, we could consider a tie-up”, he added.

The thaw culminated in a summit between Ma and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November, something once unthinkable at the height of hostilities.

The growing economic dependence has aligned the island closer to China as voters complained of not receiving numerous anticipated benefits amid a struggling economy.

Tsai referred to the spat in her victory speech, saying the incident would remind her that as president her most important duty was to unite and strengthen the country.