Update | Taiwan election: Tsai Ing-wen is Taiwan’s first female president after landslide victory in historic poll
Tsai Ing-wen, leader of Taiwan’s main opposition Democratic Progressive Party, declared victory as she won more than 56 per cent of the vote in the presidential election
Pro-independence party candidate Tsai Ing-wen has claimed victory in Taiwan’s presidential election to become the island’s first female head of state.
Tsai said in her victory speech tonight that the election outcome was a further show of how ingrained democracy had become in Taiwan, adding: “The people of Taiwan have elected a government that will defend Taiwan’s sovereignty.”
She also warned China that “suppression” would harm cross-strait ties.
“Our democratic system, national identity and international space must be respected. Any forms of suppression will harm the stability of cross-strait relations,” she said.
Follow our updates of the historic poll below