Taiwan gets first female president: Will cross-strait thaw continue?

The results of the recent Taiwanese elections are in; the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has won the presidential vote, with Tsai Ing-wen set to be the first female president of the self-ruled island.

With this vote, DPP returns to power eight years after the rule of the pro-China Kuomintang (KMT) or Nationalist Party. Given her pro-independence credentials, questions are being asked about the play of cross-strait relations under the new dispensation in Taipei.

Tsai Ing-wen is expected to push her policies which would strengthen the nation’s stance as an independent republic.

Her main opponent, Eric Chu of the Kuomintang party, conceded the defeat much before the results were out. “I congratulate Chairman Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party on her victory,” he said. “This is the choice of Taiwan’s people.” Ms. Tsai had 57 percent of the vote while Mr. Chu had a mere 30 percent, Taiwan’s Central Election Commission reported.

This is the second time that a candidate of the DPP has come to power; the last time was in 2000 when Chen Shui-bian came to power. The KMT has been in power for almost 70 years and has overseen improving relations with Beijing.

Ms. Tsai’s campaign revolved around improving the economic conditions of the country, as economic growth in Taiwan has been slow over the last few years. A large part of the voter’s pool was also disappointed by Ma Ying-jeou, the former president and his policies of building closer ties with China, which considers the self-governed island to be a part its territory with which it will be eventually united.

Ms Tsai will have to take measured steps as she cannot risk Taiwan’s economy in exchange for its total independence. Since Taiwan is a largely export oriented nation, it has several agreements with China, its major trading partner and favourite investment destination.

In the days ahead, all eyes will be on whether the dramatic scaling up of economic and people-to-people relations between mainland China and Taiwan will continue. The new Chinese president had pledged during her campaign to maintain the cross-strait status quo. Given the Chinese leadership’s preoccupation with domestic issues and the slowing economy, one can expect Beijing to play it safe, and not get into a confrontation mode with the new regime in Taipei.

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