TAIPEI - TAIWAN'S ruling Nationalist Party has won a key legislative by-election in its stronghold in Taipei.
Nationalist candidate Chiang Nai-shin's victory on Saturday in Taipei's Ta-an district defied speculation that the party might lose because it has failed to boost Taiwan's sagging economy.
President Ma Ying-jeou has aggressively improved trade relations with China since taking office last May, but Taiwan's economy has still contracted because of slumping exports.
The Ta-an seat was vacated in January after the Nationalists' Diane Lee resigned for having US nationality. Taiwan forbids citizens with dual nationality to hold public office.
The Nationalists control 70 per cent of the 113 legislative seats. -- AP
