TVCE (TAIWAN) – Tsai Ing-wen has been elected Taiwan’s first female president in the country’s historic election.
The 59 year old Tsai leads the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that wants independence from China.
Delivering her victory speech, Tsai vowed to preserve the status quo in relations with China, adding that Beijing must respect Taiwan’s democracy and both sides must ensure there are no provocations.
Political analysts say China sees the island as a breakaway province – which it has threatened to take back by force if necessary.
Ms Tsai who hailed a “new era” in Taiwan, pledged to co-operate with other political parties on major issues.
The new President urged both sides to show “dignity and reciprocity” in their relations, saying the will of the Taiwanese people would be the basis for relations with China,
She thanked the United States and Japan for their support and vowed Taiwan would contribute to peace and stability in the region.
Ms Tsai had a commanding lead in the vote count when Eric Chu of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) admitted defeat.
