Taiwan got its first female president Democratic Progressive Party leader , Tsai Ing-wen

#Beijing : Tsai Ing-wen has been sworn in as the new president of Taiwan, becoming its first female leader. The unassuming but determined leader led the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to a landslide win in elections in January. Ms Tsai, 59, swore the presidential oath in front of the national flag, before being presented with the official seal. She called for ‘positive dialogue’ with Beijing. Chen Chien-jen was sworn in as vice-president, in front of a portrait of Sun Yat-sen- the founder of the Republic of China. She and outgoing President Ma Ying-jeou then came out to wave at the crowds watching on screens outside the presidential building. In her inaugural speech, she spoke of Taiwanese people’s commitment to ‘the defence of our freedom and democracy as a way of life’. The ‘stable and peaceful development of the cross-Strait relationship must be continuously promoted’, she said, calling on both sides to ‘set aside the baggage of history, and engage in positive dialogue, for the benefit of the people on both sides’.

The Speech is likely to irk China which sees its eventual unification with Taiwan as non-negotiable. Moreover her insistence on every Taiwanese responsibility to safeguard Taiwan’s democracy and freedom could irritate China further. Traditionally DPP has leaned towards independence from China, which sees Taiwan  as a breakaway province and has threatened in the past to take the island by force if necessary. Beijing has insisted she first recognise the two sides as part of one China, an agreement reached by both sides in 1992. She insisted that the previous pro-China government and Beijing had reached an understanding back then, but stopping short of ‘accepting’ it herself. Given rising tensions in the South China Sea, Beijing would like a friendly Taiwan as its ally. Election of Tsai Ing-wen proves that Taiwanese people cherish these characteristics of their society and their self-rule more than economic ties with China.

The pro-China Kuomintang (KMT) has ruled Taiwan for most of the past 70 years while Tsai’s election win was only the second ever for the DPP. But earlier ruler lost public support over his handling of the economy, the widening wealth gap, as well as too friendly an approach to Beijing. Tsai Ing-wen’s inauguration is making headlines in Taiwanese and Hong Kong papers but mainstream papers in mainland China are giving the event scant attention who fear her inauguration to mark the start of a ‘period of uncertainty’ in cross-strait ties.

Pro-reunification Taiwanese portal Central opines that the island will enter an ‘economic winter’ under her leadership. She may not seek ‘de jure’ separation, but her ‘softer approach will nonetheless allow pro-independence movements to linger in the island’ commented a section of media. Online censors deleted messages related to Tsai’s inauguration from China’s Twitter-like service Sina Weibo. by Agencies,