Tsai Ing-wen wins Taiwan leadership election

Taipei, Jan 17: Tsai Ing-wen, candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won Taiwan’s leadership election on Saturday, according to the fil result of ballot counting released by the island’s election commission. In a speech at the Kuomintang (KMT) headquarters in Taipei, Tsai’s rival KMT candidate Eric Chu acknowledged his failure, saying he would take responsibility and resign from the post of KMT chairman, Xinhua reported.

The Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of Chi Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council released a statement late on Saturday, saying the mainland’s major principles and policies concerning Taiwan are “consistent and clear, and will not change with the results of Taiwan elections.”

In the past eight years, on the political basis of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing “Taiwan independence,” both sides have jointly explored a path for the peaceful development of the cross-Strait relations, set up an institutiol framework for exchanges and cooperation, and maintained peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the statement said.

“Such hard-won good momentum should be cherished,” it said. “We will continue to adhere to the 1992 Consensus and resolutely oppose any form of secessionist activities seeking ‘Taiwan independence’,” it read.  (IANS)