Millions of voters went out to the polling booths in Taiwan on Saturday, in a historic election where pro-Independence Democratic Progressive Party is expected to make strong gains. The party is led by Tsai Ing-wen, who is pipped to be the country’s first female president. AP reported that the polling has ended.
The DPP is unlikely to support close ties with China, from whom the country split in 1949. Relations between the two countries were thawing under the rule of outgoing president Ma Ying-jeou and his Kuomintang party. Last month, Ma and Chinese president Ji Xingping met in Singapore, the first time the two countries’ leaders had come together in 66 years.
If the DPP wins, this will only be the second time the KMT party has lost presidency and power in Parliament. The DPP is against China’s policy of uniting the two countries again – Beijing has even threatened to use force if necessary, The Guardian reported.
Voters are believed to have been displeased with Ma’s decision to build relations with China. There has also been widespread discontent over the dramatic decrease in economic growth in the country over the past year, with wages stagnating and housing prices shooting up. Last year, thousands of students took to the streets of Taipei to protest against the government.
Tsai has consistently and comprehensively led opinion polls. She was a presidential candidate in the 2012 elections as well. While she is expected to be cautious in her dealings with China, officials from her party said that she would continue to keep the relationship stable.
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