Tsai Ing-wen was elected Taiwan's new president on Saturday, making her the first woman ever to serve in the office.
Tsai belongs to the Democratic Progressive Party, a liberal political party that promotes a Taiwanese national identity separate from China. The Chinese government views the island nation just to the east as part its territory that they should eventually control. Taiwan remains self-governed, and with the election of Tsai, who will enter office with a DPP-controlled legislature, the plan is to keep it that way.
“The results today tell me the people want to see a government that is willing to listen to people, that is more transparent and accountable, and a government that is more capable of leading us past our current challenges and taking care of those in need,” Tsai told members of the press, as reported by the New York Times.
According to the Times, Tsai won with 56 percent of the vote, while her opponent, Eric Chu of the Kuomintang, only earned 31 percent by the time 99 percent of polling stations reported their results.
The Kuomintang was Taiwan's former ruling party, and had controlled the island for decades while preserving close ties with China. Tsai is only the second president elected to office who doesn’t belong to the Kuomintang.
Chu argued that Taiwan should pursue more trade and investment with China in order to boost the economy. The Times reported, however, that voters saw this as a possible opening for the Chinese government to gain full control of Taiwan.
Tsai succeeds outgoing president, Ma Ying-jeou, a Kuomintang party member who aimed to build a tighter relationship with China. When talking to the press, Tsai accused Ma and his ilk of muting the voters’ voices.
“Behind me is the presidential office. It’s just a hundred meters away from the people,” she said. “But those inside the presidential office can’t hear the voice of the people.”
