Democratic Progressive Party's Tsai Ing-wen becomes Taiwan's first woman president

  • Ms Tsai Ing-wen won 56.12 per cent of the vote, becoming Asia's first woman leader who is not related or affiliated to a political dynasty

  • Her Kuomintang rival Eric Chu resigns as party chairman. KMT also lost its long-held majority in legislature 

  • Ms Tsai, chairman of the pro-independence DPP, pledged to build consistent and predictable cross-strait ties

  • China said it would continue to oppose any Taiwan independence activities

SPH Brightcove Video
The leader of the independence-leaning opposition, Tsai Ing-Wen, wins the presidential elections and pledges to ensure the status quo with China, which claims Taiwan as its own.
Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen celebrates her victory in Taipei on Jan 16, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
Democratic Progressive Party's Ms Tsai Ing-wen celebrates her election victory with party members. PHOTO: EPA
Democratic Progressive Party's Ms Tsai Ing-wen celebrates her election victory with party members. PHOTO: REUTERS
Democratic Progressive Party supporters celebrate Ms Tsai Ing-wen's victory. PHOTO: REUTERS
Democratic Progressive Party supporters celebrate Ms Tsai Ing-wen's victory. PHOTO: EPA
Democratic Progressive Party supporters celebrate Ms Tsai Ing-wen's victory. PHOTO: REUTERS
Democratic Progressive Party supporters cheer while watching the vote counting process. PHOTO: EPA
Kuomintang presidential candidate Eric Chu leads the party's election team in bowing to supporters after losing the polls. PHOTO: EPA
Kuomintang presidential candidate Eric Chu resigns as party chairman after losing the presidential election. PHOTO: REUTERS
A Kuomintang supporter breaks down in tears after Eric Chu concedes defeat in Taiwan's presidential election. PHOTO: REUTERS
Supporters of Kuomintang's Eric Chu listen to an address outside the party headquarters. PHOTO: AFP

Taiwan's opposition leader Tsai Ing-wen made history on Saturday (Jan 16) by becoming the island's first woman president.

Following her win, Ms Tsai, who is chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), said she would strive to maintain stability in relations with China.

Ms Tsai won 56.12 per cent of the more than 12 million votes cast. She won 6.89 million votes; Mr Eric Chu of the Kuomintang (KMT) got 3.81 million (31.04 per cent) and Mr James Soong of the People First Party took 1.58 million (12.84 per cent).

"I will build consistent, predictable and sustainable cross-strait relationship," Ms Tsai said as she claimed victory at the DPP's headquarters in Taipei.

"I also want to emphasise that both sides of the strait have a responsibility to find mutually acceptable means of interaction that are based on dignity and reciprocity," she said.

"Our democratic system, national identity and international space must be respected. Any forms of suppression will harm the stability of cross-strait relations," she added.

Remote video URL

After Ms Tsai's victory speech, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said it would continue to oppose any Taiwan independence activities.

China's determination to protect its territory and sovereignty was "hard as a rock", the office said in a statement released via the official Xinhua news agency.

Ms Tsai's victory came on the day that outrage erupted over the treatment of 16-year-old Taiwanese K-pop star Chou Tzu-yu who was reportedly forced to record a video apology after angering Chinese netizens by flying a Taiwanese flag in a recent online broadcast.

Ms Tsai said in her speech that Chou's case had "shaken Taiwanese society".

"This particular incident will serve as a constant reminder to me

about the importance of our country's strength and unity to those outside our borders," she said.

In her victory speech, Ms Tsai said Taiwanese had made history with their ballots, realising the third transition of political power and the first transition of legislative majority.

"We have yet again shown the world that we are a democratic country. Democracy is deeply ingrained in us," she said. "I thank Eric Chu and James Soong for showcasing the spirit of democracy. Their critique and suggestions will serve as motivation for my presidency."

Ms Tsai said her party has had effective communications with the United States in the past and she hopes to continue with that.

She also said that she will continue to develop good relationships with Japan despite the Diaoyu/Senkaku disputes in the East China Sea.

Earlier, Mr Chu said in a speech in Taipei that he failed in his campaign to succeed President Ma Ying- jeou and that the KMT would also lose its majority in the Legislative Yuan.

He announced that he would step down as the KMT chairman.

"I am sorry, I have let you down. We have failed. We did not work hard enough," Mr Chu said, surrounded by sombre-looking supporters.

Ms Tsai arrived at the DPP headquarters in Taipei at 4.15pm, to track the counting of votes after polls closed at 4pm.

In an interview with Time magazine last year, the youngest of nine children recalled how she was "not considered a kid that would be successful in my career".

Ms Tsai's win means that she is Asia's first woman leader who is not related or affiliated to a political dynasty.

She is also likely to make waves - one met with some trepidation - in cross-strait relations.

Unlike her predecessor, Mr Ma of the KMT, she has not endorsed the so-called 1992 Consensus which recognises that there is one China but with differing interpretations.

The DPP advocates formal independence for the self-governing island, which Beijing considers to be its territory.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.