Polls have closed in Taiwan in a presidential election that is expected to propel the pro-independence opposition party to power.
The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP)
Tsai Ing-wen is poised to become the self-governing island’s first female president, returning the main opposition party to power after eight years under China-friendly Nationalist Party.
Pre-election polls showed that scholar-turned-politician
Tsai Ing-wen, with a far more careful approach to China than the ruling Kuomintang party (KMT) of President
Ma Ying-jeou, will win the election.
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Reporter’s Notebook: China’s shadow looms over crucial Taiwan election
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Parliamentary polls were also held and if the DPP wins those too, Tsai will get an even stronger mandate.
Tsai has walked a careful path on her China strategy, saying she wants to maintain the “status quo” with Beijing.
However, the DPP is traditionally a pro-independence party and opponents say Tsai will destabilise relations.
Rapprochment
After decades of enmity, current KMT president
Ma Ying-jeou has overseen a dramatic rapprochement with China since coming to power in 2008.
Although Taiwan is self-ruling after it split with China following a civil war in 1949, it has never formally declared independence and Beijing still sees it as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.
The thaw culminated in a summit between Ma and Chinese President
Xi Jinping in November.
Yet despite more than 20 deals and a tourist boom, closer ties have exacerbated fears that China is eroding Taiwan’s sovereignty by making it economically dependent.
In 2014, the government was forced to shelve a trade pact after student-led protesters occupied parliament..
Category: Daily Witness, National
