US Congratulates Tsai Ing-Wen On Winning Taiwan’s Presidential Election

China still considers Taiwan a rebel province and has warned repeatedly it will never tolerate formal independence. “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.

Tsai now finds herself in one of Asia’s most delicate and challenging positions, balancing the democratic will of the Taiwanese people and the aspirations of mainland China, which makes no secret of its desire to absorb Taiwan.

Tsai wasted no time in warning China that “suppression” would harm cross-strait ties in her first comments to global media following her win, adding that “our democratic system, national identity and worldwide space must be respected”.

Chu has already conceded defeat and congratulated Tsai on her victory. Taiwan’s Premier Mao Chi-kuo also resigned.

The Nationalist Party also suffered a major defeat in polls to elect legislators, held simultaneously with the presidential election.

During a post-election global news conference, the 59-year-old Tsai vowed to strengthen the unity of the country and build a consistent, predictable and sustainable cross-strait relationship. The DPP did so under Chen Shui-bian from 2000 to 2008.

The issue is sensitive in self-ruled Taiwan – and could play into how people vote – where many people resent China’s claims on their island and feel proud to be called Taiwanese rather than Chinese.

Taiwan was governed separately from mainland China throughout the Japanese occupation (1895-1945) and since 1949, and has never been part of communist China.

Chou Tzu-yu, 16, of girl-band TWICE who is based in South Korea, was forced to apologise after sparking online criticism in China for waving Taiwan’s official flag in a recent Internet broadcast. She even served as the Chairwoman of the Consumer Protection Commission. She has won increased support from the public partly because of widespread dissatisfaction over the KMT and President Ma Ying-jeou’s handling of the economy and widening wealth gap. Soong’s People First Party was the top performing third party, with 6.5 percent of votes, closely followed by the New Power Party at 6.1 percent.

The current ruling party KMT is conservative and pro-Bejing.

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

Chu bowed deeply to distraught supporters in a sign of apology and declared his resignation as chairman of the party.

The DPP has won a majority in the legislature for the first time, which is expected to lead to a stable administration.

Yet, despite more than 20 deals and a tourist boom, closer ties have exacerbated fears that China is eroding Taiwan’s sovereignty by making it economically dependent.