Taiwan's Tsai Vows Economic Fix While Keeping Peace With China
- First female president ousts China-friendly KMT in landslide
- Beijing warns of 'grave challenges' to ties with old rival
Tsai Ing-wen waves to supporters during rally in Taoyuan, Taiwan, on Jan. 14.
Photographer: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty ImagesPresident-elect Tsai Ing-wen pledged to overhaul Taiwan’s flagging economy and maintain peace with mainland China, even as she called on Communist Party leaders in Beijing to respect the island’s democracy and place in world affairs.
Tsai, 59, rode on a wave of discontent with the ruling Kuomintang to become Taiwan’s first female president on Saturday, a resounding victory just four years after failing to unseat President Ma Ying-jeou. The former law professor and trade negotiator demonstrated the same cautious approach that fueled her comeback and helped her Democratic Progressive Party capture its first legislative majority, saying in a victory speech that, "the energy of reforms will be maximized, while the volatility of reforms will be minimalized."