Taiwan Elects Tsai Ing-wen as First Female President

[Porker]

TAIPEI—Opposition candidate Tsai Ing-wen won a landslide victory in Taiwan’s presidential election Saturday, making her the democracy’s first female president and setting back Beijing’s ambitions to reunify the island with the mainland.

Ms. Tsai’s commanding victory brings to power her Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, which espouses Taiwan’s formal independence from China—a red line for Beijing, which claims the island as its territory.Eric Chu, the candidate from the ruling Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party, conceded defeat and congratulated Ms. Tsai on her victory as results from the election commission, although incomplete, gave her an unassailable lead.

While expected, the result is a blow for the Chinese government, which seeks reunification with Taiwan and has forged a good working relationship with Taipei under the outgoing president, KMT politician Ma Ying-jeou. It could alsocomplicate Beijing’s ties with Washington, which is obliged by U.S. law to help Taiwan defend itself.

During the campaign, Ms. Tsai, a 59-year-old former law professor, promised not to provoke Beijing and abide by existing agreements, many of which promoted expanded commercial ties.At the same time, Ms. Tsai spoke to concerns among many Taiwanese about Beijing’s rising influence during Mr. Ma’s eight years in office and the effect China’s economic heft was having in enriching a business elite, while drawing away jobs and investment from Taiwan’s economy

Results from a simultaneous legislative election were expected later on Saturday evening. Many pollsters predict that the DPP could also win them, either outright or in a coalition. It would be the first time the ruling KMT and its allies have lost control of the legislature sinceChiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist government was ousted from the mainland by Communist forces in 1949.

[StefanK]

 

TAIPEI—Opposition candidate Tsai Ing-wen won a landslide victory in Taiwan’s presidential election Saturday, making her the democracy’s first female president and setting back Beijing’s ambitions to reunify the island with the mainland.

Ms. Tsai’s commanding victory brings to power her Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, which espouses Taiwan’s formal independence from China—a red line for Beijing, which claims the island as its territory.Eric Chu, the candidate from the ruling Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party, conceded defeat and congratulated Ms. Tsai on her victory as results from the election commission, although incomplete, gave her an unassailable lead.

While expected, the result is a blow for the Chinese government, which seeks reunification with Taiwan and has forged a good working relationship with Taipei under the outgoing president, KMT politician Ma Ying-jeou. It could alsocomplicate Beijing’s ties with Washington, which is obliged by U.S. law to help Taiwan defend itself.

During the campaign, Ms. Tsai, a 59-year-old former law professor, promised not to provoke Beijing and abide by existing agreements, many of which promoted expanded commercial ties.At the same time, Ms. Tsai spoke to concerns among many Taiwanese about Beijing’s rising influence during Mr. Ma’s eight years in office and the effect China’s economic heft was having in enriching a business elite, while drawing away jobs and investment from Taiwan’s economy

Results from a simultaneous legislative election were expected later on Saturday evening. Many pollsters predict that the DPP could also win them, either outright or in a coalition. It would be the first time the ruling KMT and its allies have lost control of the legislature sinceChiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist government was ousted from the mainland by Communist forces in 1949.

 

 

it's a brave decision by the Taiwanese. Kudos!

[Jamesc]

I always like to see more women on top. 

 

[Vid]

I always like to see more women on top. 

 

 

Me too!

[Wt_know]

KMT rule for 8 years with no to little progress ... housing (skyrocketed price) and job (salary depress) cause KMT lose a lot of votes

DPP landslide win is more or less forecasted

 

it's a brave decision by the Taiwanese. Kudos!

 

Edited January 16, 2016 by Wt_know

[Thaiyotakamli]

But i feel that 'Cai' auntie is useless lol

 

 

And following her appointment, she will release chen tsui bien.

[Jman888]

more important is they now get more seats, next is to see how she appoint the ministers.

[Toothiewabbit]

Expect cross straits sabre-rattling again?

[Wt_know]

Expect cross straits sabre-rattling again?

dont think so ... she is much smarter and sane than ah bien

in her victory speech ... she promised and assured voters no aggresive nor controversy action on cross straits issue for now ...

Edited January 16, 2016 by Wt_know

[Vincent87]

Thumb up

[Fcw75]

Words of wisdom from her:

 

Ms Tsai wrote in her book: "In a mature democratic society, if there is no strong opposition party, then democratic politics will most likely regress.

 

Can't say the same for Singapore.

[Thaiyotakamli]

dont think so ... she is much smarter and sane than ah bien

in her victory speech ... she promised and assured voters no aggresive nor controversy action on cross straits issue for now ...

Haha she said diao yu island belong to taiwan. I mean why asking for another problem? Let diao yu island be fight between japan and china

 

 

And also it seems tsai would miss out many economic opportunities cooperation with china and her promises are basically nothing new but continuation of Ma.

 

I seen her speech, i feel zhu li lun is a much better candidate and it seems tsai is blur blur. Different from ah pien that is charismatic and full of bulls**t haha

Words of wisdom from her:

 

Ms Tsai wrote in her book: "In a mature democratic society, if there is no strong opposition party, then democratic politics will most likely regress.

 

Can't say the same for Singapore.

Yes look at india how powerful their democratic society

KMT rule for 8 years with no to little progress ... housing (skyrocketed price) and job (salary depress) cause KMT lose a lot of votes

DPP landslide win is more or less forecasted

Yes expected especially after recent tzuyu case, many swing votes and alot youngsters choose tsai.

 

 

Ma presidency is considered as failure due to little progress and poor cabinet ministers. With addition of UFC ring in parliament lol

Edited January 16, 2016 by Thaiyotakamli

[Goldbug]

PLA Fujian military district will start missile exercise?

[Wt_know]

a classic example of ownself defeat ownself ... not because opposition is strong

 

Ma presidency is considered as failure due to little progress and poor cabinet ministers. With addition of UFC ring in parliament lol

 

[Pinobii]

Taiwan economics didnt seem to progress much during ma's reign but the shrewd business men who crosses the straits all huat huat

 

Thanks to ma's non-agressive political approach with mainland china

[Wt_know]

MA open policy to PRC only benefited a very niche and specific group of elites ... man on the street suffers for 8 years ...

[Sturtles]

MA open policy to PRC only benefited a very niche and specific group of elites ... man on the street suffers for 8 years ...

 

 

There are always 2 sides to a coin.

 

Taiwan being Mandarin Educated, Mandarin Speaking society, is already disadvantaged when it comes to global competitiveness. 

 

In addition, the earlier DPP policy, where most tertiary institutions are made into degree awarding organisations dilutes the quality of their certificates.

 

There just ain't so many degree level jobs for these people, whose aspirations are white collared. 

 

When the only job they can get is via manning food stalls and selling nutmegs, you can see the resentment build up. In fact, Singapore is heading to that direction with so many varsities opening up, and so many part time university courses available.

 

End of the day, its jobs, 'good' jobs, along with the definition of 'good'.

[Vulcann]

 Did he actually say that?