Tsai Ing-wen sworn-in as first women President of Taiwan

May 20, 2016

Tsai Ing-wen (59) has sworn-in as the first female and 14th President of Taiwan on 20 May 2016 in front of national flag.
She succeeds outgoing President Ma Ying-jeou. She is the leader of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) which favours independence from China.
Background

  • Earlier in January 2016, Tsai led the DPP had won the Parliamentary and Presidential elections.
  • Ms Tsai’s victory was the biggest mandate ever won by a DPP President and is only the second-ever victory for the DPP since Taiwan split with China in 1949.
  • The first was Chen Shui-bian who also was pro-independence (from China) advocate. During his time as President between 2000 and 2008 tensions had escalated with China.

China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province (island) which will one day be reunited with the mainland. China also has threatened to take back by force, if necessary.

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