Taiwan’s president saw off an unprecedented challenge to her leadership from within her own party, defeating her former premier in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s primary ahead of next January’s election.
Tsai Ing-wen, 62, secured a majority support in the telephone poll this week, DPP spokeswoman Lee Yen-jong said Thursday. Her challenger, former Premier Lai Ching-te, is an outspoken proponent of formal independence for Taiwan. Tsai still requires approval from the party’s executive committee next week to officially become the DPP’s nominee.
