Tsai Ing-wen elected as first female President of Taiwan

January 16, 2016

Pro-Independence Opposition candidate of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Tsai Ing-wen (59) has been elected as first female and 14th President of Taiwan.
Ms Tsai’s victory is the biggest mandate ever won by a DPP president and is only the second-ever victory for the DPP since Taiwan split with China in 1949.
The first was Chen Shui-bian who also was pro-independence (from China) advocate. During his time as President between 2000 and 2008 tensions had escalated with China.
Background

In the 2016 general elections, DPP which leads the camp that wants independence from China led by Tsai Ing-wen emerged victorious with 56% of the total vote share. She defeated Eric Chu of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) Party that secured 31% vote share.

Comment

China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province (island) which will one day be reunited with the mainland. China also has threatened to take back by force, if necessary.
The two sides had split in 1949 after then nationalist KMT party had lost to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under Mao Zedong and had set up a new government in Taiwan.
The KMT Party has ruled Taiwan for almost past 70 years and has overseen improved relations with China in recent times.

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