Taiwan elects opposition, pro-Independence first lady president

flag of the Republic of China in Taiwan.
Flag of the Republic of China

Opposition candidate elected as first female president of Taiwan
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Tsai Ing-wen from Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was elected the first female president of the Republic of China (Taiwan), local media reported citing live television figures from polling stations.

The opposition candidate has gained 60 percent of the vote, the South China Morning Post newspaper reported.

Eric Chu Li-luan of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT, or the Chinese Nationalist Party) got only 30 percent of the vote and has already admitted defeat, according to the news outlet.

The victory of Tsai Ing-wen, who has pledged to maintain Taiwan’s status quo of de-facto independence, could lead to cooling in the relations between Beijing and Taipei.

Taiwan became self-governed in the 1940s after a civil war but China still considers it part of its territory.

The presidential election comes two months after a historic meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Taiwanese departing President Ma Ying-jeou.

In December, Director of the Chinese State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office warned that China’s relations with Taiwan are headed toward “complicated changes” in 2016.

Meanwhile, the mainland earlier said it won’t intervene in Taiwan’s elections but it will maintain its focus on cross-Strait relations, the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office has said.

An unnamed spokesman of the office made the remarks when responding to a question on on-going elections of Taiwan leader and legislature. (Sputnik)

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